Reluctant to take the imperial exam, a free-spirited Di Renjie stumbles into a tricky theft case and gets in trouble for helping an old friend.
Di Renjie survives a fire but becomes a suspect. With 10 days to clear his name, he starts investigating an unusual sachet from a victim in the blaze.
A series of investigative efforts reveals a link between the murders and a prominent general. Despite warnings, Di Renjie makes a bold move in public.
A stunning revelation forces Di Renjie to confront a respected figure. Quickly after, he and Qiao Tai become targets of mysterious assailants.
Heading to start a new job, Di Renjie discovers a suspicious dead body on his way. In Penglai, he grows skeptical about the city's pristine records.
An anguished Teng Kan turns himself in and says he killed his wife — but Di Renjie believes the case is far more complex than it appears.
As Di Renjie delves deeper into Yinlian's death, he learns more about her past. He then sets up a trap to draw out a key informant.
Connecting the threads of evidence, Di Renjie identifies the real murderer of Yinlian. However, he lacks sufficient evidence to make a solid case.
The Queen brings Di Renjie a secret order, tasking him to crack a gold smuggling case within a month — failure to do so will implicate him as well.
Di Renjie and Penglai's elites are stranded at sea after their ship is sabotaged, and he faces mounting pressure to crack the gold smuggling case.
A deadly attack throws Di Renjie's ship into chaos and sets off a chain of crises. As a result, he must make a snap judgment to save Cao An and himself.
As Di Renjie gradually pieces together the intricate conspiracies behind the gold smuggling, his deductions provoke a desperate backlash.
After a tender encounter with Cao An, Di Renjie starts to investigate the death of Zhong Fang. Ma Rong makes an impulsive mistake.
Di Renjie questions Ying'er about her ties to Zhong Fang. Following the clues, he notices a link between the murder and a larger web of corruption.
A visit to Zhong Fang's pawn shop unearths shocking details about him. As Di Renjie's impending relocation draws near, he hopes to talk to Cao An again.
As a newcomer to Lanfang, Di Renjie finds an insider to teach him about local politics. Soon, a suspicious suicide case catches his attention.
Di Renjie's efforts to restore Lanfang's rule of law are met with skepticism from the locals. Qiuyue denies she murdered Mr. Li.
Unable to locate Qiuyue's whereabouts, Di Renjie worries about her safety. A coroner's shocking findings shed new light on the investigation.
Insufficient evidence forces Di Renjie to release Han Yongnan, who quickly becomes a prime suspect again for a death at his lavish banquet.
After fending off bandits, Di Renjie meets an army officer reporting Han Yongnan's sighting. Ma Rong, however, senses something odd among the soldiers.
Ma Rong disagrees with Di Renjie about his treatment of the soldiers at the border. Later, he returns to Lanfang and realizes he's fallen into a trap.
Feeling unfairly treated, Ma Rong decides to pursue an investigation alone. An enigmatic message from a dead wild goose leads Di Renjie to Qingchuan.
While Di Renjie's investigation unexpectedly lands him in a risky situation, Qiao Tai's friends remain deeply concerned about his poison-induced coma.
A chat with Xiaowei provides Di Renjie with a crucial piece of information. Shortly afterwards, Lang Liu finds him and makes a shocking confession.
Di Renjie has to make up his mind about Black Flame's secret roster. Later, a joyful lantern festival is disrupted by a strange carriage.
A creepy paper mache mannequin stirs up fear among people in Lanfang. A craftsman's clue pushes Di Renjie to revisit an abduction case from long ago.
Cao An finds herself in peril while following Lin Fan's trail. Rushing to Tongkang Village, Di Renjie is shocked by the brutal scene before him.
Black Flame's public threat causes widespread fear — and deaths — in Lanfang. To hunt them down, Di Renjie thinks Xiao Chunyu's missing case is key.
Joining Lin Fan, Di Renjie pays a visit to the mysterious and infamous Black Flame — an emotional meeting that ends in a tragic twist of fate.
On a trip with Cao An, Di Renjie suddenly falls ill and takes shelter in an academy, where a series of spooky events unfold.
To get rid of a stalker, Cao An stumbles into a mysterious place. Di Renjie wakes up and notices there is something unusual about Zhaoyun Academy.
Cao An goes missing on their way to leave Zhaoyun Academy, sending Di Renjie scrambling to return and locate her whereabouts.