Ling-er returns to the candidate dormitory and dissects her official score slip beside her aunt's notebook.

Ling-er tracks the music score ledgers to the restricted archive corridor.

Ling-er waits until the corridor thins and follows the ledger trail.

Ling-er steps out and confronts Shen before he can hide the correction.

Shen admits the correction without calling it cheating.

Shen reveals that his interference is tied to Ling-er's late aunt, Cao Yan.

Ling-er explains that the return-bride path is her chosen freedom, not a punishment to be saved from.

Ling-er threatens to report Shen, but Shen knows the Bureau will protect expert judgment.

Ling-er stops threatening and nearly begs, but Shen refuses to withdraw his protection.

Ling-er learns there is no simple way to undo Shen's correction once it enters the Bureau system.

Ling-er turns to her aunt's embroidery sabotage instructions.

During the embroidery test, Ling-er makes the flaw exactly as the notebook suggests.

Princess Yu notices Ling-er's embroidery flaw.

Yu tests Ling-er and confirms the flaw was intentional without saying so aloud.

Yu quietly interferes with Ling-er's embroidery score.

Yu's reason becomes clear: she wants Ling-er positioned above two more dangerous candidates.

Ling-er receives the embroidery results and realizes the sabotage has been transformed into praise.

Ling-er confronts Princess Yu about the added embroidery points.

Yu explains that Ling-er is being used as a barrier against the Thorn Pair.