Episode list

Zhao Pan'er, who opened a tea house in Hangzhou, was originally a courtesan due to her father's crimes. Her peaceful new life was interrupted with Gu Qianfan's arrival.

Zhao Pan Er sees Mr. Yang give The Night Revels painting to Gu Qian Fan, who says it's a fake. Then, chaos erupts as men with words, bows and arrows and crossbows rush into the Yang Mansion, trapping the Yang family and Pan Er inside. Gu Qian Fan and his men fight as best as they can but they are outnumbered. Qian Fan survives with Pan Er's help.

Pan Er sees a floating branch on the water and realizes it's her best friend San Niang lying on it. The sailors are reluctant to save who they presume is a dead woman, so Qian Fan comes out of hiding and jumps in to save San Niang. On a port of call, Qian Fan and Pan Er take San Niang to the doctor for treatment. While in that town, they run into Yin Ping and find out Song Yin Zhang's sad fate.

Pan Er cannot access Yin Zhang's assets but she needs money to rescue her meimei. She borrows from Gu Qian Fan using the genuine The Night Revels as collateral. Qian Fan warns her not to reveal to anyone that she has the painting then he gives her a valuable Jade his father left him. They part ways, as Qian Fan heads to a Capital Security office where his trusted colleague Wan Qi works.

Gu Qian Fan and Wan Qi catch up, then Wan Qi serves him wine and leaves to prepare him a meal. Instead, armed men go inside and attack Qian Fan. Expecting to see his friend dead, Wan Qi is surprised that Qian Fan is still alive, despite drinking the poisoned wine. In the meantime, Zhou She falls into Pan Er's trap. He ends up divorcing Yin Zhang and giving her his mansion. Once he realizes it was a trap, they end up in court because Pan Er refuses to marry him after his divorce.

The magistrate for Song Yin Zhang's divorce proceedings was lenient towards Zhou She and wanted to cane Pan Er. Thankfully, a more senior official arrived and reminded him to follow the law, and Zhou She was properly punished. In order to help the women and to get medical treatment himself, Qian Fan had to ask Minister Xiao, his nearest relation, for help.

Pan Er reaches the Capital and finds Ouyang Xu, and she gets clarification about their engagement and his plans for her grand wedding. Qian Fan has been recuperating at the Xiao Mansion. Minister Xiao is preparing to return to the Capital.

Gao Hui, Ouyang Xu's new fiancee, visits him to ask about his lady visitor, but he lies about it, not wanting to tell her about Pan Er. Pan Er writes a Deed of Agreement between her and Ouyang Xu. Qian Fan visits the Xiao ancestral tombs.

Qian Fan works on the smuggling cases, so that he can return to the Capital. Uncle De creates conflict between Pan Er and Ouyang Xu. Chi Yan Nei and the three ladies get into a disagreement. They resolve it, but his pride takes a hit.

Song Yin Zhang meets Zhang Hao Hao, another performer like herself and she is inspired to perform in public again. However, Ouyang Xu bribes the local police to humiliate the three ladies and parade them bloodied and disheveled as they are escorted out of the Capital. They encounter Gu Qian Fan who asks each of them if they won't have regrets leaving, and they end up returning with him.

During his meeting with the Emperor, Ouyang Xu manipulates the event so that his official assignment will be in the new Western Palace, which is a death sentence for his career and his engagement. But he felt cornered by Pan Er's demands, so he left before her 3-day deadline passes. Pan Er, Yin Zhang and San Niang decide to open a tea house as a way to earn a living while they wait Ouyang Xu out. Chen Lian promises to help them navigate the Eastern Capital.

Gu Qian Fan was promoted, along with Lei Jing; both are now fifth ranked. Qi Mu, Qian Fan's uncle, visits him in his new office where Qian Fan's been very busy. Chen Lian has been taking care of the three ladies' needs with their new tea house, but Qian Fan was left in the dark about their plans. Song Yin Zhang wants to help more with the tea house, but knows she doesn't have the skills. She eventually goes to the Music Bureau in the Capital and finds Mr. Yuan to deliver the letter of recommendation.

The tea house was briefly busy but has been quiet since so the ladies are worried about their loss, creating conflict among them. Pan Er finds out why it's so quiet at Qian Fan's next visit. The ladies talk about the changes they'll make.

The reinvented tea house is a success, but Qian Fan warns Pan Er not to be too high profile, as that invites jealousy from other businesses. While walking Pan Er back, Qian Fan is noticed by Commander Yu who is determined to get rid of him, regardless that Minister Xiao is Qian Fan's backer. Now that Yu Zhong Quan thinks he knows Qian Fan's weakness, he will use it.

Yu Zhong Quan frames Qian Fan using Pan Er, but she has outsmarted him. Chen Lian arrives to save her, with Qian Fan pretending not to know to she is. Once home, Chen Lian and Qian Fan show up. Qian Fan wants to make sure she understands why he had to deny knowing her, that if "those who regard me as a thorn in their eye" knew she was his weakness, then Pan Er reminds Qian Fan of the gap in their social status.

Other tea houses started copying Half-Hidden's pastries and adding pipa music. Eventually, the other owners come to Half-Hidden and confront the ladies and threaten to ban their customers. It results in a tea making contest.

Qian Fan decided he wants to marry Pan Er, and they go on a date. They get noticed by Lei Jing and Xiao Wei, to whom he had to lie about Pan Er. Although Pan Er thought she understood what it meant to be with Qian Fan, it bothers her to be denied by him. Before Qian Fan can meet up with Pan Er, he is further waylaid by Qi Mu who scolds him about touching Xiao Wei. Qi Mu reminds him that their mutual goal should be getting rid of Minister Xiao first and that he would take care of Lei Jing.

Pan Er seeks out Inspector Gao, gives him a painting and explains why she's there. He's so impressed that he wants to ensconced her in a safe room. Qian Fan arrives in time to take her away. They talk and resolve their issues.

Once Qian Fan and Pan Er resolve their issues and Pan Er decides to trust him, Qian Fan shows his soft side. Shen Ru Zuo is courting Yin Zhang but she is uncomfortable with his attention. Gao Hui manages to get invited to Pan Er's home.

Ouyang Xu had a difficult time reaching the Western Temple and missed Taoist Baoyi. The monks didn't welcome him after his grueling journey. Qian Fan and Pan Er spend time together but have not made their engagement public.

Although Qian Fan is unwilling to reconcile with Minister Xiao, he is unwilling to harm him or see him harmed, and he wants to see bring his and Pan Er's children to visit their grandfather. Qian Fan and Pan Er are fulfilling each of the rites to get ready for their wedding day. Yin Zhang is slowly allowing Shen Ru Zuo's courtship. San Niang sends pastries to Du Chang Feng as a "thank you."

Pan Er and Qian Fan spend more time together, and Qian Fan asks her for more time to reveal his personal secrets. One thing that was inadvertently revealed was Chi Yan Nei and Qian Fan were neighbors when they were very young. Qian Fan captured one of the Hat Demons terrorizing the Capital, but the Imperial Guards arrive soon after and want to take custody of his prisoner. Guard Commander Cui reveals that he also secretly takes orders from Qi Mu. Qian Fan was disconcerted by this information. Yin Zhang has been practicing her new pipa score non-stop and was dismayed to be criticized severely by Qian Fan. She practiced even more, to the point where she's near fainting at Minister Xiao's birthday party.

Yin Zhang performs well at Minister Xiao's banquet, earning a nod from outgoing Minister Ke Zheng. Instead of waiting for Pan Er, Yin Zhang allows Shen Ru Zuo to take her home. Zhang Hao Hao is upset that Yin Zhang upstaged her, and she picked a fight with Chi Yan Nei, causing him to leave. Qian Fan meets with Qi Mu, who spins a story about protecting him from the Hat Demon investigation, but things don't add up. Qi Mu also warns him against marrying Pan Er, which will prevent him from meeting his lifetime goals.

Shen Ru Zuo seems to want to marry Song Yin Zhang, but she hasn't allowed a full courtship to happen because she's afraid of being taken in again. Qian Fan has said Ru Zuo is a good person, but Chi Yan Nei doesn't agree. Yin Zhang seems to have feelings for Ru Zuo but also a crush on Qian Fan, and she doesn't know about his and Pan Er's engagement. Ouyang Xu was forced to write a divorce letter by some Gao servants, and they let it slip that Pan Er is marrying Gu Qian Fan. The public is panicked about the Hat Demons when there was a killing on Tea Lane. Qi Mu and Commander Cui try to figure out who to placed the blame on, when Qi Mu decides to blame the Capital Security Office, not caring whether Qian Fan gets blamed. Minister Xiao sets himself up as bait for the Hat Demons and wants Qian Fan to save him.

Minister Xiao's inane idea to use himself as bait almost got himself, Xiao Wei and Qian Fan killed. Without the fire on board, it wouldn't have attracted Pan Er's attention and she wouldn't have been able to administer first aid so quickly. That night, Qian Fan sends Chen Lian with a message to Qi Mu. Yin Zhang finds out she's the last to know about Pan Er and Qian Fan's engagement. Upset, she heads directly to Shen Ru Zuo's house.

Qian Fan spends his recuperation safely at the Capital Security Office but sometimes is able to get away during the day to see Pan Er. Once healed, the Emperor promoted him and he was able to request a title for his mother, a fulfillment of his lifelong dream. Yin Zhang has moved in with Shen Ru Zuo and had her servants pick up her pipa. Master Chi has asked the ice vendor to stop selling to Pan Er's tea house, causing issues. Pan Er and San Niang plan to sell the tea house and have starting looking at restaurants to buy. But they ran into an unexpected yang issue.

Ouyang Xu is trying to reach Taoist Baoyi by catering to his nephew. Ke Zheng sees this and cuts ties with him. Qian Fan's latest promotion is to head the Capital Security; he reminds his team he is not Lei Jing, but the Living Devil.

Due to Qian Fan's guilt over the way Pan Er's father was treated by the censors, he couldn't face her and had avoided seeing her. Chen Lian had run all the errands between them, until he had a falling out with Ge Zhao Di about her cruel mother and she broke his gift. Chen Lian asked to be transferred our of the Capital the very same day. Qian Fan sneaked into Pan Er's room in the middle of a stormy night to leave a pawn shop note, which she could use for the restaurant. But, the wind blew it down and Zhao Di picked it up with other papers, not knowing what it was. Pan Er collected whatever assets they had and visited the pawn shops to be able to place the deposit for the restaurant.

Qian Fan rushes to the Capital in order to see Pan Er. He hadn't recovered from his coma and he is in poor shape from his hurried ride back. He runs into Xiao Wei, who tells him it was their father who sentenced Pan Er's father to exile and Pan Er and her mother to servitude. And that it was also Xiao Qin Yan who placed the paperwork in front of Qian Fan to sow discord between him and Pan Er. Qian Fan decides to finally face Pan Er but he loses consciousness before he gets to her house. Pan Er is a real bind and feels abandoned by Qian Fan. She goes to Master Chi to borrow money for the restaurant purchase.

Unable to meet the final payment, Pan Er is due a refund from the restaurant seller, but he smugly said he will take a year to do so. Not finding a better solution, Pan Er meets him alone and threatens his life with her hairpin to get the refund immediately. Pan Er tells San Niang to sell the last of their artwork and jewelry, including the hairpin Qian Fan gave her. She and San Niang decide to continue running to tea house. However, a huge storm came over the Capital and devastated many buildings, including the tea house. At that point, Pan Er and San Niang are both exhausted, physically and mentally. They decide to return to Qiantang. Shen Ru Zuo and Yin Zhang attend Minister Lin's banquet, with Ru Zuo promising Yin Zhang that pleasing him with her pipa playing will ensure her freedom. With Zhang Hao Hao's help, she sees through his lies and escapes a horrible end. Pan Er stands up for Master Chi Pan when Official Ren Jiang was abusing his power and threatening his life.

Master Chi Pan was so impressed with and touched by Pan Er's words at the wharf, he decides to let the three ladies run his failing restaurant than have them return to Qiantang. Chen Lian finally returns to the Capital to only find Qian Fan still in a coma and that Pan Er has not been notified of Qian Fan's status. Gao Hui is upset that Ouyang Xu is back in the Capital and that her father intends for her to marry him.

Pan Er renovates the restaurant to ensure it meets the vision she has for it. San Niang impresses the cooks with her knife skills and promises them a raise if they meet her standards. Yin Zhang invites performers to see the space, so they can decide whether they want to perform with her. When Chen Lian and Qian Fan stop their carriage on the street, Chen Lian warns Pan Er about Chi Pan, but Pan Er said, "Now that we've broken up, I can be with any man. It has nothing to do with anyone else." Gu Hai meets with Pan Er to tell her that Ouyang Xu has returned and that she is forced to marry him. She warns Pan Er to be careful. San Niang tells Chang Feng she has fallen for him and asks him if he wants to be with her. Zhao Di and Chen Lian clear the air. Chen Lian tells her Qian Fan had been in a coma and is still very sick.

The restaurant opens with much fanfare and gets rave reviews. There's high anticipation for the invitations of the 12 scholars to the new Pavilion. Even with the exorbitant cost, they are not disappointed with the meal and the unique entertainment. Across the river, Qian Fan is having dinner with his father Xiao Qin Yan who casually asks about his marriage. They have a confrontation and Qian Fan breaks ties with Minister Xiao for good. Qian Fan sneaks into Pan Er's home but steps onto a mouse trap, waking the whole household. He sent off without having the chance to speak to Pan Er. Ouyang Xu seeks an audience with the Emperor to impeach the Empress.

With Qi Mu's backing, Ouyang Xu meets the Emperor and presents The Night Revels painting, which depicts the Empress as a music performer. Ouyang Xu calls for the impeachment of the Empress for deceiving the Emperor. The Emperor escapes from the Palace to eat at Pan Er's restaurant, but she doesn't realize he's the Emperor until he mentions Transportation Officer Yang Zhiyuan. Then, Pan Er weaves a tale which implies that The Night Revels Ouyang Xu has is a fake. Pan Er finally meets with Qian Fan to discuss the painting.

Pan Er stops Qian Fan from letting the Emperor know that Capital Security forces were aware he took a trip outside the Palace. They finally meet and she explains what happened with the Emperor at the restaurant. Qian Fan was shocked that she would lie about the painting, and she replied, "I hate you but I don't to see you die." He asked for a second chance, but she asked him point blank whether he thought about ending their engagement while they were separated, and he couldn't answer. Chi Pan takes Pan Er drinking to take her mind off her troubles. Lei Jing is trying to please both Qi Mu and Xiao Qin Yan. San Niang is reunited with Zi Fang.

After hearing from Chen Lian and learning about Qian Fan's childhood from Chi Pan, Pan Er realized there's something deeper going on with Qian Fan. She looks into Court Records from twenty years back, found the event of her father's crime and realized it was Minister Xiao who exiled her father. This was the event Qian Fan has been agonizing over. After searching her own heart, praying and asking for a monk's guidance, Pan Er decides to meet Qian Fan for a final time.

Qian Fan is busy shopping for their new home but he has gone overboard, so Pan Er takes the key to the money box away. Chi Pan and Pan Er have a meeting with the Restaurant Guild but Qian Fan has the day off so he accompanies them. On their way, assassins drop logs on them. Qian Fan was able to push Chi Pan to safety but he and Pan Er were injured. Yin Zhang takes over as restaurant manager, during which the Restaurant Guild targets them. Chang Feng and San Niang are hiding their engagement from Zi Fang, which makes Chang Feng uncomfortable. Ouyang Xu likens his move to the south as killing him.

Zi Fang catches San Niang in Chang Feng's embrace and reacts badly. He forbids his mother from marrying and is disrespectful to her, so Yin Zhang dumps him into the river. Qian Fan is impeached by the Censors for his marriage to Pan Er and then is taken for interrogation by the Palace Guards. Lei Jing tries to convince the Emperor that Qian Fan and Pan Er had nothing to do with The Night Revels painting showing up in the Capital. Gao Hui addresses the Emperor on behalf on Pan Er's interactions with the wine and the spice guilds.

Qian Fan is released upon the Emperor's command. Pan Er, along with her sisters, went to Kaifeng Prefecture to sue Ouyang Xu for breaking their engagement. When it couldn't be heard there because of Pan Er's residency, she beat the Public drum and was willing to be flogged 20 times for her case to be heard.

After hearing what Pan Er had already done for her, the Empress realizes she and Pan Er have more in common. She and the Emperor reconcile and attend the trial together. The three sisters are each given a reward of their choosing by the Emperor. And finally, we have a wedding.