Tan Qi begs Yan Yuhuan to plead with the Emperor to spare Zhang Xiaojing’s life by lying about Zhang Xiaojing being her lover. Yan Yuhuan grudgingly agrees. Lin Jiulang and Prince Yong both try to claim credit and the Emperor rebukes the Crown Prince for his incompetence. He Zhizheng steps forward to get the Crown Prince out of a jam by revealing that the land on which an embassy was built was forcibly acquired from its rightful owner. In a flashback, Wen Wuji meets with Blaze Gang but the negotiations break down and Wen Wuji is killed.
檀棋恳请严羽幻出面求圣上赦免张小敬的死罪，并谎称张小敬是她的情郎，严羽幻才勉强答应。林九郎和永王互相为对方邀功，圣上指出太子办事不利，何执正站出来为太子解围，当众揭穿营建小勃律使馆那块地是强取豪夺。闻无忌和熊火帮谈判，谁知谈判不成惨遭杀害，张小敬一气之下怒杀熊火帮34人。何执正让永王找出证人，永王一口咬定张小敬被他说服才自首，还诬陷张小敬仇视朝廷。张小敬想尽快去兴庆宫的大灯楼破坏龙波的计划，晁分给他指出通往兴庆宫的密道。张小敬让元载赶快去兴庆宫发出警告，防止龙波炸毁长安城，可元载担心张小敬失利被连累，他想亲自寻找证据立功。
