She Who Became the Sun

Ouyang returns to Anyang to report his failure, and seeks out Esen in the women’s quarters, hoping to use his hatred of women to fuel his anger and desire for revenge. His plan backfires when Esen forgives him. Ouyang asks permission to seek aid from the Zhangs in Yangzhou. Esen grants it, though he (rightly) believes that Ouyang doesn’t need the help. Ouyang then requests that Esen go with him to retake Bianliang; Esen agrees. Before his departure to Yangzhou, Ouyang visits Wang to request supplies for the upcoming battle at Bianliang. Wang is suspicious of Ouyang’s recent failures and knows at least part of the truth about Chaghan’s death. However, his reaction is relatively mild, so Ouyang thinks little of the exchange.

Over dinner, Ouyang requests military aid to capture Bianliang in exchange for the Great Khan’s favor. Zhang Shicheng agrees. Afterward, Ouyang witnesses a couple having sex. He realizes they are Zhang Shide and Madam Zhang, Zhang Shicheng’s wife, and that Zhang Shide also has the Mandate of Heaven (orange flame). The following day, Madam Zhang, the real head of the Zhang merchant business, meets with Ouyang and reveals that she knows both that Ouyang saw them the night before and that he is more interested in men than women.