Guo Lishi delivers an oral edict from the Emperor ordering Peacekeeper Corps to close the investigation. The edict states that all personnel in the Agency are deemed to have achieved sufficient merits to be safe from any disciplinary sanctions. They shall return to the original posts from which they were seconded. Zhang Xiaojing is to be sent back to death row. Li Bi secretly orders Tan Qi to release Zhang Xiaojing to undertake further covert investigations. However, having been deceived and misguided by Yao Runeng, Cui Qi leads the Lyuben Regiment to defect to the Yourao Regiment, taking Zhang Xiaojing with them.