Xue Ning and Xie Wei work together to get Duke Xue’s cronies expelled from Hanlin Academy, angering Xue Shu. Yan Lin’s father rushes to the palace to report Duke Xue’s private army but is ambushed and severely injured on his way. A paper indicating collusion with the rebels is found in Xue Ning’s room, but she cleverly maneuvers the investigation to be headed by the Ministry of Justice so the Yan family is not implicated if she is found guilty.