After taking power, Mehmed confronts Halime for trying to kidnap Ahmed and accuses Çandarlı of conspiracy. He forces Halime to decide whether to betray Çandarlı or stay silent.
Mehmed then begins restructuring the palace, starting with the crucial choice of a new Grand Vizier. He names Bahar as his chief consort (haseki), reshaping the harem’s hierarchy. The sudden return of Hala Sultan throws everything into disarray, as she immediately targets Halime. In a strategic move, Mehmed also places Gülşah under Bahar’s authority.