After being reprimanded by the new emperor, Chancellor Su Chen resigns, plunging the court into an immediate crisis of an empty treasury and floods of refugees. The emperor has no choice but to visit him personally and ask him to return to office, and Su Chen lays down three conditions for retaining control. Back at court, he establishes a royal trading company to replenish the treasury, cleverly devises ways to defeat the enemy's heavily armored troops and divert floodwaters to protect the people, and successively purges traitorous ministers colluding with the enemy, aristocratic families involved in corruption, and powerful nobles attempting to seize the throne. Once peace is restored throughout the realm, Su Chen resigns again and retires to Jiangnan. The emperor bids him farewell with tears in his eyes, and the two drink together from afar, vowing to safeguard their peaceful land.