Prime minister Gao tries to get ahead of the investigation by confirming the investigating minister's loyalty. He also sends people to find the source of the blood book. Xiao Feng still believes Gu Jian is Gu Xiaowu. Gu Jian does not correct her and they decide to leave the central plains after the lantern festival. Minister Gao asks Gao Xian to instigate a fake rebellion in the Westlands in order to put the emperor into a difficult situation and subtly show him that he needs the Gao family's forces. This forces the emperor to reward the prime minister amidst the investigations against him. However, the ministers of education and criminal punishments secretly continue their investigation while pretending to be at odds with each other Li Chengyin suspects Gu Jian will take Xiao Feng out of the city, using the crowds on the lantern festival day, and orders extra guards to be stationed at the gates. He also sends a message to general Zhao to quietly investigate the relationship between Shuobo and Gao Xian. Li Chengyin uses the emperor's slowly boiling anger over the Shuobo rebellion to subtly make him more suspicious of the Gao family and push his own agenda. (Source: Autumn carrot at MyDramaList)