Story of Kunning Palace ep 2 recap/spoilers

Episode 2 recap: Jiang Xue Ning saved You Fang Yin.

Jiang Xue Ning glanced at the items in her room and realized that her bracelet was missing. She gathered the servants together and asked them to confess voluntarily. Wang Mama and the other servants, aware that Madame Jiang disliked Jiang Xue Ning, were arrogant and unafraid. When they heard Jiang Xue Ning's statement about seeking someone to punish them, they assumed she meant Madame Jiang and didn't care. However, they were surprised to learn that Jiang Xue Ning had actually invited Master Jiang himself.

Xie Wei arrived at the Jiang residence and proactively sought advice from Master Jiang. Master Jiang was pleasantly surprised by his visit because Xie Wei currently held the esteemed position of Imperial Tutor. While the two were conversing, the maid, Tang'er, approached and relayed Jiang Xue Ning's message. Upon hearing that a servant had dared to steal, Master Jiang apologized to Xie Wei and decided to handle the matter.

Wang Mama and the other servants hurriedly knelt down upon seeing Master Jiang, but they believed Jiang Xue Ning couldn't produce any evidence. Initially, they denied their actions, but Jiang Xue Ning unexpectedly presented a ledger that documented each of her belongings and who had given them to her. Jiang Xue Ning casually recited a few entries, and with the pretense of ordering a search of their rooms, Master Jiang coerced them into confessing and apologizing.

Master Jiang sought Jiang Xue Ning's opinion on how to deal with the servants. Jiang Xue Ning didn't want to be too harsh on them and simply taught them a lesson to remind them of their rightful place. After dealing with the servants, Master Jiang asked Jiang Xue Ning about the ledger and whether Yan Lin had suggested it. Jiang Xue Ning nodded in agreement. While they were in conversation, Xie Wei suddenly approached. Seeing Xie Wei, Jiang Xue Ning couldn't help but recall the situation where he had driven her to her death. Although she managed to suppress her anger in time, Xie Wei still noticed.

Back in her room, Jiang Xue Ning remembered the scenes from her past life when Xie Wei and Yan Lin rebelled and imprisoned her. The reason Xie Wei didn't kill her at the time was because he had recognized her and forgotten about their past. However, with that momentary lapse just now, Jiang Xue Ning worried that Xie Wei might have discovered something. She pondered countermeasures. If she couldn't prevent Xie Wei and Yan Lin's rebellion, it might be a good idea to make Xie Wei surrender to her completely. However, she couldn't understand why Yan Lin would cooperate with Xie Wei in their treasonous plans.

After seeing off Xie Wei, Master Jiang happily went to meet Madame Jiang. He informed her about Princess Le Yang, Shen Zhi Yi, seeking a companion for studies, and Madame Jiang recommended Jiang Xue Hui. In order to prove that she wasn't biased, Madame Jiang also explained why Jiang Xue Ning shouldn't go. It was because Jiang Xue Ning was too rough, and if she offended the princess, it would bring trouble to the Jiang family.

Once this matter was settled, Master Jiang planned to meet the Emperor. Unexpectedly, he saw Yan Lin climbing over the wall to meet Jiang Xue Ning. Seeing this guy not entering through the main gate again, Master Jiang became furious and drove him away with a bamboo pole. Jiang Xue Ning was well aware of what Master Jiang intended to do. Since the lantern festival incident where she unintentionally offended Shen Zhi Yi, Shen Zhi Yi had been targeting her everywhere. To avoid a repetition of past events, when Yan Lin invited Jiang Xue Ning to admire the lanterns, she found excuses to decline.

Xie Wei returned to his residence and discussed with his bodyguard, Jian Shu, about the way Jiang Xue Ning looked at him. Xie Wei had a paranoid condition, and when he and the disguised Jiang Xue Ning traveled to the capital together for the imperial examination, he worried that Jiang Xue Ning might leak that information. So he instructed Jian Shu to closely monitor Jiang Xue Ning and eliminate her if he noticed anything suspicious.

After giving these orders, Xie Wei attended the court assembly and, taking advantage of the Emperor's trust in him, saved Zhang Zhe, who had offended the Emperor. This act earned him a favor and also served as a reminder to Master Jiang that the Xue and Yan families were engaged in hidden struggles within the court. Xie Wei advised Jiang Tian You not to choose the wrong side. Both the Xue and You families were hosting chrysanthemum parties simultaneously. To please the Xue family, Jiang Tian You took Madame Jiang and Jiang Xue Hui to their gathering, while Jiang Xue Ning went alone to the You family. There, she rescued Miss You Fang Yin, who was being mistreated. However, she was surprised to find that Yan Lin had also followed them, and as a result, Shen Zhi Yi had also arrived at the You family.