S01E01 Episode 1
Wary of a power struggle, the Tiansheng emperor decides to send away Ning Yi, who spends his days weaving silk and rueing a traumatic event in his past.
The Rise of Phoenixes
S01E15: Episode 15
Headmaster Xin brings the sorcerer to Ning Yan, but an imposter hides behind the mask. The guilt-ridden emperor scrutinizes Ning Chuan's story.
Overview
When a secret from the past rears its head, respected warrior Feng Zhiwei is forced to choose between revenge and her loyalty to ruling prince Ning Yi.
Episodes
S01E02 Episode 2
Feng Zhiwei intervenes when Madam Yuhua bullies courtesan Zhu Yin. An assassination stirs the court. The other princes see Ning Yi as a growing threat.
S01E03 Episode 3
Ning Yi keeps up his disguise when Zhiwei arrives at the Prince of Chu's residence. Zhiwei is forced by her mother to swear she'll never marry Ning Yi.
S01E04 Episode 4
The emperor confronts his sons about the rumors regarding the Dacheng prince. Yuhua suspects a link between Zhiwei and the fallen Dacheng Empire.
S01E05 Episode 5
Following Ning Chuan's campaign against the Bloody Pagoda, the suspicious emperor appoints Ning Yi to investigate -- but Chief Gu's cooperation is key.
S01E06 Episode 6
Chief Gu uncovers the conspiracy behind the Bloody Pagoda. Madam Yuhua goes to town and hears a story about Gu Heng and the infant Dacheng prince.
S01E07 Episode 7
Ning Yi finds the document inscribed with information about Zhiwei's and Feng Hao's identities. Qiu Shangqi sends out a search party to catch Zhiwei.
S01E08 Episode 8
After making a fateful pact, Chief Gu and Ning Yi involve Qiu Shangqi and Qiu Mingying in a scheme to ensnare Ning Chuan.
S01E09 Episode 9
Zhu Yin helps Ning Yi get to the bottom of the killings linked to the Bloody Pagoda. Headmaster Xin suggests a ploy for Ning Chuan to test Ning Yan.
S01E10 Episode 10
Ning Chuan reveals to Headmaster Xin his plans to overpower Duke Chang. Disguised as a man, Zhiwei begins work at the House of Lanxiang.
S01E11 Episode 11
Ning Yan falls for Headmaster Xin's sorcery trick, confirming Ning Chuan's suspicions -- and Headmaster Xin increasingly gains Ning Chuan's trust.
S01E12 Episode 12
Zhu Yin and Zhiwei suspect a plot by Ning Chuan to poison Ning Yi, but the emperor also falls ill. Duke Chang struggles to regain Ning Chuan's trust.
S01E13 Episode 13
A mysterious new bodyguard stalks Zhiwei. Ning Yi sends Zhiwei to the East Palace to swap an artifact, resulting in grave consequences for Ning Yan.
S01E14 Episode 14
Ning Yi confronts Ning Yan about his role in Ning Qiao's downfall. Ning Sheng suspects Ning Yi is involved in the scandal surrounding the wooden figure.
S01E15 Episode 15
Headmaster Xin brings the sorcerer to Ning Yan, but an imposter hides behind the mask. The guilt-ridden emperor scrutinizes Ning Chuan's story.
S01E16 Episode 16
Princess Shao Ning complains to Ning Chuan about her encounters at Qingming Academy. Ning Yi struggles to solve the mystery behind his illness.
S01E17 Episode 17
Ning Chuan sees the ring on Zhao Yuan and thinks it's a trap. Ning Yi orders his men to find Zhiwei, but Duke Chang is a step ahead.
S01E18 Episode 18
Ning Chuan plans a staged Bloody Pagoda assassination, but a counterscheme is in motion. Zhiwei appears at the imperial ceremony to select top scholars.
S01E19 Episode 19
At court, Chief Gu reveals Ning Chuan's Bloody Pagoda connections. Disillusioned with Ning Yi, Zhiwei ingratiates herself with the emperor.
S01E20 Episode 20
The emperor gets to the bottom of Ning Qiao's case. Shao Ning unknowingly helps Zhiwei identify the culprit behind an attempt to poison Ning Yi.
S01E21 Episode 21
Ning Yi warns Zhiwei about the Chang clan and confronts the emperor over his mother's death. Duke Chang and Ning Sheng try to conspire with Ning Chuan.
S01E22 Episode 22
Ning Yi anticipates Duke Chang and Ning Chuan's next move. Zhiwei struggles to convince Ning Yi to spare Ning Chuan's life.
S01E23 Episode 23
The courtiers pass verdict on Duke Chang's fate, but Ning Yi takes matters into his own hands. Shao Ning asks Qiu Shangqi about Zhiwei's past.
S01E24 Episode 24
With Ning Yi's help, Zhiwei forces Qiu Shangqi to retract his ultimatum and cave into her demands. Shao Ning is determined to avenge Ning Chuan.
S01E25 Episode 25
Ning Qi's return worries his mother, Lady Wang. Zhiwei comes up with a solution when Ning Qi expresses concerns about the horse market to the emperor.
S01E26 Episode 26
Suspecting intrigue, Ning Yi secretly sends a crew to capture corsair Chen Shao, who's accused of assassinating courtier Lin Renqi.
S01E27 Episode 27
Qiu Mingying pressures Zhiwei to resign from the court. Ning Yi helps Ning Qi realize that he's become Ning Sheng's scapegoat in the Chen Shao case.
S01E28 Episode 28
Zhiwei encounters Helian Zheng on her way back to the Qiu household. Chen Shao tells Ning Yi how he became a mercenary of the corrupt Lord of Minhai.
S01E29 Episode 29
Posing as Ning Yi, Ning Sheng uses Noble Consort Chang's hairpiece to deceive Zhan Bi, whom Ning Yi confronts about the death of his mother, Ya Le.
S01E30 Episode 30
Zhan Bi falls for Ning Sheng's plot to dishonor Ning Yi in front of the emperor, but the scheme backfires when Zhiwei intervenes.
S01E31 Episode 31
Helian Zheng tells Ning Yi he intends to ask for Zhiwei's hand in marriage -- right in front of Wei Zhi. Zhiwei urges Shao Ning to keep a low profile.
S01E32 Episode 32
As the Censorate chief, Ning Yi presents to the emperor evidence incriminating Lord of Minhai in Lin Renqi's case -- but Chen Shao ruins his plan.
S01E33 Episode 33
Zhiwei objects when Lord of Minhai asks the emperor for permission to train Ning Sheng. Headmaster Xin aims to put distance between Ning Yi and Zhiwei.
S01E34 Episode 34
Ning Yi brings up Lin Renqi's case when the emperor mentions Lord of Minhai's return to his dominion. Shao Ning suspects Ning Yi caused the blood marks.
S01E35 Episode 35
Shao Ning and Noble Consort Chang collude to keep Lady Wang silent about a past scheme against Ya Le. Wei Zhi is asked to guard the golden box.
S01E36 Episode 36
Helian Zheng discovers Wei Zhi's secret. Zhao Yuan reports to the emperor that Shao Ning has been orbiting around Noble Consort Chang and Ning Sheng.
S01E37 Episode 37
Ning Yi visits Ya Le's old home, Yilan Palace, and encounters a former servant. Noble Consort Chang arrives soon after -- and thinks she's seen a ghost.
S01E38 Episode 38
During an imperial gift ceremony, Lady Wang is agitated by false accusations -- and Ning Yi seizes the chance to reveal the truth about Ya Le's death.
S01E39 Episode 39
After Ning Sheng fails to access the golden box, Shao Ning and Peng Pei plant another distraction -- but someone else lurks in the shadows.
S01E40 Episode 40
Ning Yi gets wind of Ning Sheng's charade -- and a plan to take Wei Zhi's life. Shao Ning swaps the emperor's scroll, falling for Ning Yi's trap.
S01E41 Episode 41
Wei Zhi advises the emperor to send an envoy to Minhai. Shao Ning asks Ning Qi to help her obtain the emperor's approval to wed Wei Zhi.
S01E42 Episode 42
Headmaster Xin scrambles to keep Wei Zhi from blowing her cover. After rejecting Shao Ning's proposal, Wei Zhi makes a shocking revelation at court.
S01E43 Episode 43
As Zhiwei's execution looms, Qiu Mingying draws up a dangerous rescue plan with the Bloody Pagoda, but Ning Yi intervenes just in time.
S01E44 Episode 44
Ning Yi sends Qiu Mingying a message through Chief Gu. Against their father's orders, the Chang brothers set out to block Ning Yi's arrival in Minhai.
S01E45 Episode 45
Chang Zhongxin sets a trap for his brother, Zhongyi, and turns against his own father. Feng Hao steals an artifact from Qiu Mingying's closet.
S01E46 Episode 46
Zhongxin puts on an act to cover up his crime and prepares his troops for a rebellion. Zhiwei encounters Yan Huaishi's fiancée, Hua Qiong.
S01E47 Episode 47
Zhongxin takes advantage of Ning Yi's illness to put his plan in motion, but Yan Huaishi convinces Zhou Xizhong to help thwart Zhongxin's ambitions.
S01E48 Episode 48
After Feng Hao escapes from jail, Peng Pei seeks information on the Qiu family's link to the former dynasty -- and reports his suspicions to Ning Qi.
S01E49 Episode 49
After confronting Qiu Mingying about Feng Hao's identity, Headmaster Xin falls for Ning Qi and Peng Pei's trap, and Qiu Mingying is apprehended.
S01E50 Episode 50
Ning Qi orders his men to capture Master Zong. Qiu Mingying tells Headmaster Xin the only way to protect Zhiwei is to sacrifice herself and Feng Hao.
S01E51 Episode 51
Zhiwei forces her way into the emperor's court to defend her family. Ning Yi arrives soon after and implores the emperor to spare Zhiwei's life.
S01E52 Episode 52
Master Zong tells Zhiwei the truth about her birth origins. To protect Zhiwei, Ning Yi gives the emperor a life-or-death ultimatum.
S01E53 Episode 53
After granting permission for Helian Zheng to marry Zhiwei and return to Jinshi, the emperor orders Ning Yi to accompany them on the way.
S01E54 Episode 54
Ning Yi meets with the prince of Dayue with a proposal for an alliance. The emperor orders Gu Heng to keep a close eye on Ning Qi and Peng Pei.
S01E55 Episode 55
Helian Zheng confronts Helian Lie with an edict to dispute the succession, but Liu Mudan intervenes. Ning Yi investigates the Liu and Si families' past.
S01E56 Episode 56
Ning Yi frees a prisoner in order to help Zhiwei and Helian Zheng. Ning Qi orders fragrance-maker Yueling to replicate the emperor's incense box.
S01E57 Episode 57
Zhiwei grabs Liu Meiduo's sleeve and foils Helian Lie's plot against her and Ning Yi. Helian Zheng learns the truth about his father's death.
S01E58 Episode 58
Yueling steals a talisman from Ning Sheng's box before handing it to Ning Qi. Unrest in Jinshi interrupts Zhiwei and Helian Zheng's nuptials.
S01E59 Episode 59
Yueling overhears the emperor's conversation with Lingying, Ya Le's former servant. Ning Qi uses Shao Ning to frame Ning Yi.
S01E60 Episode 60
Ning Yi finds a way out of Zongzheng Temple and takes Lingying with him. To ferret out the real Zhiwei, Jin Siyu makes a deal with Zhiwei and Hua Qiong.
S01E61 Episode 61
Lingying tells Ning Yi a secret about his mother. Yueling hands the talisman to a man connected to the Dacheng Empire and schemes to expose Ning Qi.
S01E62 Episode 62
Jin Siyu identifies the real Zhiwei. To aid in Zhiwei's escape from Puyuan, Ning Yi asks Jiarong to deliver the map of a secret exit.
S01E63 Episode 63
Zhiwei wakes up with little recollection, and Jin Siyu leads her to think she's his consort. Ning Yi demolishes Puyuan with his rescue plan.
S01E64 Episode 64
The emperor refuses to grant Ya Le's wish to see Ning Yi and plans to make Ning Qi his successor. Yueling and Zhang Sunhong plot to undermine Ning Qi.
S01E65 Episode 65
Ning Qi delivers gift chests to Ya Le's residence -- but it's a Trojan horse. Ning Cheng arrives at the scene and clashes with Master Zong.
S01E66 Episode 66
After overhearing Zhang Sunhong and Ning Qi, Gu Nanyi takes matters into his own hands -- with fatal consequences. Two murders stir the palace.
S01E67 Episode 67
Zhiwei asks Zhang Sunhong to let go of the past. Headmaster Xin mentions Ning Qi's imminent revolt to Ning Ji, who doesn't intend to pursue the throne.
S01E68 Episode 68
Flanked by courtiers, Ning Qi rounds up troops outside the emperor's room, but Ning Yi and Zhao Yuan walk through the gate with a shocking announcement.
S01E69 Episode 69
Zhang Sunhong turns Zhiwei against Ning Yi, and Yueling leverages Ning Qi's grudge. Ning Cheng stops Zhiwei and Helian Zheng on their way to Jinshi.
S01E70 Episode 70
Gu Nanyi asks Yueling to tell Zhiwei the truth about Helian Zheng's fate. Zhiwei accepts Ning Yi's offer to make her empress, but she has other plans.
Cast
Chen Kun
Ning Yi
Ni Ni
Feng Zhiwei
Ni Dahong
Ning Shizheng
Qu Gaowei
Ning Qi
Bai Jingting
Gu Nanyi
Wang Ou
Hua Qiong
Zhao Lixin
Xin Ziyan
Yuan Hong
Jin Siyu
Zhang Xiaochen
Helian Zheng
Mei Ting
Ya Le
Liu Mintao
Qiu Mingying
Cao Lei
