Episode 3 recap: Jiang Xue Ning helped Shen Zhi Yi resolve her inner conflict.
When Shen Zhi Yi approached, Jiang Xue Ning hurriedly lowered her head. Even so, when Shen Zhi Yi reached her, he stopped and looked around, not uttering a word. No wonder Yan Lin followed him. Indeed, there was some beauty in Jiang Xue Ning. After saying these words, to tease Jiang Xue Ning, Shen Zhi Yi intentionally had everyone draw pictures. Seeing Jiang Xue Ning sitting still for a long time, Shen Zhi Yi walked over, intending to confront her. However, Jiang Xue Ning apologized to him and requested that her eye corner be drawn. After Shen Zhi Yi agreed, Jiang Xue Ning drew a peach blossom on her eye corner, precisely covering the scar on her left eye. Moreover, she used a sentence to unravel Shen Zhi Yi's mental burden. Shen Zhi Yi's scar was a result of an injury on the battlefield, and constant criticism made her feel extremely inferior. When Jiang Xue Ning told her that this scar was her pride, Shen Zhi Yi suddenly felt enlightened.
Zhang Zhe was accused by the emperor due to his involvement with the Yan family and the rebel party. While saving Zhang Zhe, Xie Wei shifted the responsibility of interrogating the rebel party to the Ministry of Justice. The official from the Ministry of Justice believed it to be an unpleasant task and suggested that it should be handled by the Xingwu Guard, which was under the control of the Xue family. Initially, Xie Wei had been eagerly anticipating the rivalry between the two families. However, now he found himself in a predicament. If they couldn't extract information during the interrogation, it would offend the Xue family. On the other hand, if they did extract information, it would surely offend the Yan family. Xie Wei then came up with an idea: regardless of the outcome of the interrogation, he would shift the responsibility to his superior.
After the departure of the official from the Ministry of Justice, a man entered while holding a tray of tea. Xie Wei, guarding his sword, found the man somewhat unfamiliar and quietly followed him. As expected, the person turned out to be an assassin. Xie Wei used his qin (musical instrument) to block the assassin's attack and engaged in a fight with him. After leaving the You Mansion, Jiang Xue Ning agreed to accompany Yan Lin to see the lanterns. She was waiting at the designated place when the assassin pursued her, chased by Xie Wei and Jian Shu. The assassin suddenly held a dagger to her neck, using it to blackmail Xie Wei into letting her go. Although Xie Wei agreed to exchange himself for Jiang Xue Ning, she was worried that he would take advantage of the situation and harm her. Therefore, she decided to save herself. Taking advantage of the assassin's distraction, she disarmed him and before the assassin could attack again, one of Xie Wei's subordinates, hiding in the shadows, shot an arrow into the assassin's chest.
After the assassin fell, Xie Wei noticed that he was still alive, so he forcefully pressed the arrow in his chest a few inches down, causing the assassin to immediately die. Jiang Xue Ning couldn't help but feel shocked as she watched. After killing the assassin, Xie Wei did not let Jiang Xue Ning leave. Instead, he invited her into the mansion. It was only when Yan Lin arrived with his troops that Xie Wei finally released her.
Xie Wei knew that Yan Lin liked Jiang Xue Ning, so he reminded him that while he genuinely cared for others, it didn't mean that others felt the same way about him. Yan Lin ignored Xie Wei's words and took Jiang Xue Ning to see the lanterns. After they finished viewing the lanterns, he told Jiang Xue Ning that his father had agreed, and after he completed the coronation ceremony, he would go to the Jiang family to propose marriage. As he said this, he kissed Jiang Xue Ning.
Jiang Xue Ning recalled the events of the previous life, the day of Yan Lin's coronation, when the Yan Mansion was massacred, and Yan Lin barely escaped. He wanted to take Jiang Xue Ning and flee, but she firmly told him that her goal was to become the queen.
Thinking of this, Jiang Xue Ning pushed Yan Lin away and clearly told him that they could only be good friends. The Xue family wanted to obtain evidence of the Yan family's rebellion, so they ordered the Xingwu Guard to find Yan Mu's handwriting. In order to accomplish this task, the leader of the Xingwu Guard and his deputy, Zhou Yinzhi, staged a play together. The leader led his men to search for traitors in the Yan army camp, and Zhou Yinzhi deliberately tried to stop him. After the leader and his men left, Yan Lin was full of gratitude towards Zhou Yinzhi and actively invited him to stay as a guest and join the Yan army.
After Jiang Xue Ning and Yan Lin separated, she also thought of Zhou Yinzhi. Zhou Yinzhi used to be a stablehand in the Jiang family and later became the leader of the Xingwu Guard. In her previous life, Jiang Xue Ning received a lot of help from him, and it was she who introduced Zhou Yinzhi to Yan Lin. Therefore, in this life, Jiang Xue Ning decided to seek his help as well.
Just finished reading the novel two months ago and was captivated by Xie Wei. He managed to break her self-restraint and bring her down from her "godly" pedestal.
I am looking forward to the drama adaptation created by all of you, hoping it captures the feeling I imagined for the main characters.
In this drama, the male lead Xie Wei is the legitimate husband of the female lead. The second male lead is the unrequited love interest of the female lead. The third male lead is the female lead's childhood friend.
The second female lead, being a princess, is the female lead's close friend. The third female lead considers the female lead as her benefactor in life. Based on the above, this drama can also be called the female lead's harem.
Yan Lin is a young man full of vigor and passion. His love for Ning Ning is loud and unreserved, known by everyone in the city. Whoever treats Ning Ning poorly is considered an enemy to Yan Lin. What makes me regretful is that Ning Ning has never reciprocated his feelings.
She has loved Zhang Zhe and Xie Wei, but the one who has been with her for the longest journey, Yan Lin, never stirred her heart. It's because he is so good and yet so regrettable that I feel this heartache.