Poor Feng Jiu was assigned to clean Zhihe's bedchamber during the distribution of chores. On her way there, she was also handed a task that nobody else wanted to touch: delivering a Mufeng Butterfly to Princess Zhihe. Normally, Mufeng Butterflies danced on the wind, but contact with water would instantly stir up a hurricane.
Inside a side hall of Taichen Palace, dust filled the air from the celestial maidens' cleaning. Zhihe was very unhappy, feeling that the palace now smelled terrible and worrying about what would happen if Emperor Donghua were to visit. She demanded that the maidens sprinkle some floral dew.
At that moment, Feng Jiu was carrying in the Mufeng Butterfly. As the floral dew fell upon it, the creature suddenly grew several times larger and prepared to unleash a hurricane. Sensing danger, Feng Jiu was about to step in and subdue the butterfly, but she suddenly remembered Siming's warning not to reveal her identity as a Princess of Qingqiu. With no other choice, Feng Jiu had to pull back her hands.
In the end, Zhihe stepped in to deal with the Mufeng Butterfly and turned on Feng Jiu, attempting to blame her for the butterfly's loss of control, claiming Feng Jiu had failed to take proper care of it. Yet it was clearly Zhihe's demand for floral dew that had caused the creature to go berserk. How could this arrogant princess ever admit fault? Relying on her status, she bullied Xiao Jiu.
Xiao Jiu hurriedly apologized first, saying, "Please forgive me, Princess, this servant didn't mean to." Zhihe's personal maid further pressed Xiao Jiu, demanding she be driven out of Taichen Palace. Hearing this, Xiao Jiu apologized once again. Zhihe ordered Xiao Jiu to raise her head. Thanks to the earlier commotion with the Mufeng Butterfly, Xiao Jiu was covered in dust and grime, concealing her true, beautiful appearance. Seeing that this Xiao Jiu was not particularly pretty, and wishing to leave an impression of a magnanimous character in her adoptive brother's heart, Zhihe reluctantly let Feng Jiu off and allowed her to stay in Taichen Palace.
Zhihe said, "My adoptive brother has said we must be lenient toward the celestial maidens, so your punishment is to go clean the lotus pond."
Feng Jiu replied, "Thank you, Princess. This servant will take her leave."
After stepping out of the side hall, Feng Jiu anxiously went to look for the Mufeng Butterfly because she had noticed earlier that it was injured by Zhihe, and she knew the creature was completely innocent in this matter. Feng Jiu found the butterfly in a peach tree outside the hall and carried it off to a secluded courtyard to apply medicine for it.
By the lotus pond inside Taichen Palace, Emperor Donghua was sitting and fishing when the celestial attendant Zhonglin hurried over to report, "Reporting to the Emperor, we have news of Menghao." Donghua froze, dropping his fishing rod to the ground. Unhurriedly, he picked it up and asked, "After so many years of failing to find him, where has he been living in seclusion?"
Zhonglin answered, "Baishui Mountain in the Southern Wastelands of the Demon Tribe."
At Baishui Mountain, Emperor Donghua stood by a deep pool of water and spoke to the calm surface, "Come out!"
With a splash, a black dragon leaped suddenly from the fathomless depths. Failing to recognize the visitor at first, the black dragon showed signs of preparing to attack. Donghua raised the Canghe Sword and pointed it at the black dragon, saying, "Do you no longer recognize my sword?"
Recognizing the Canghe Sword, the black dragon transformed into human form—it was Menghao, a former general under the Emperor. "Menghao pays respects to the Emperor."
Donghua said, "Rise. How did you end up in such a state?"
Menghao replied, "Reporting to the Emperor, the former Red Demon Lord used his consort as bait and tricked me into being trapped here on Baishui Mountain. He used Dragon-Binding Chains to pierce my dragon bones and seal my magic, forcing me to guard the dragon-brain tree in this pool."
Donghua remarked, "Knowing your magical powers, I find that hard to believe."
Menghao sighed, "Matters of the heart penetrate bone and marrow. My cultivation was insufficient to survive this tribulation of love, and being trapped here is actually voluntary."
Donghua asked, "Voluntary? Why must you torture yourself like this?"
Menghao begged, "Please grant me this, Emperor. Besides, I still have attachments here."
Donghua asked, "Is it worth it?"
Menghao replied, "It is worth it."
Donghua said, "Since that is the case, there is no need to force it. Take care of yourself." With those words, Donghua casually swept the Canghe Sword through the air, shattering the Dragon-Binding Chains on Menghao's body and restoring his magical powers before turning to leave.