At the Grand Artisan Ceremony, a shout of "Your Highness" exposes Xiao Jingheng's hidden identity as an imperial prince. Picking up right after, Season 2 sees Lin Xiaohe startled to discover that her lame father and the soup stall matron were both palace attendants sent by the Emperor and Empress. From the very first bowl of soup, she was merely an examination question for the prince selecting a consort. Filled with righteous indignation, she leaves, returns to the marketplace to reopen her artisan shop, and refuses to acknowledge this union born of lies. He lays aside the prince's imperial escort, re-proposing with his true face. From the Gu family corruption case to the Northern Granary grain fraud case, he accompanies her step by step in investigation and layer by layer in struggle. Finally, on the day of his enthronement, he swears before the court not to trade the inner court for court affairs, swapping back into coarse clothes and carrying the old coin purse to return to the Yong'an Lane soup stall. This time, he is no prince, and she is no examination question.