Episode 4 recap: Jiang Xue Ning was chosen to be Shen Zhi Yi's companion reader.
Jiang Xue Ning arrived at the Zhou family's residence, and the butler informed him that Zhou Yinzhi was accompanying Yan Lin for a banquet. Knowing that Zhou Yinzhi cherished his horse, Jiang Xue Ning asked the butler to inform Zhou Yinzhi that his horse was sick. Upon receiving this news, Zhou Yinzhi quickly returned home.
Before Zhou Yinzhi came back, Jiang Xue Ning suddenly realized something. Yan Lin helped Xie Wei rebel to seek revenge for her family. However, after the successful rebellion, Yan Lin not only killed Zhou Yinzhi but also displayed his severed head at the city gate for three days. Yan Lin held a strong animosity towards her, and it was highly likely that Zhou Yinzhi played an accomplice role in the plot to frame him in the Yan family's case.
When Zhou Yinzhi returned, she tested him with her words and discovered that her suspicions were correct. From this, she also understood why Yan Lin's feelings towards her had turned from love to hatred. Jiang Xue Ning's questioning made Zhou Yinzhi break into a cold sweat. He didn't understand how Jiang Xue Ning knew about his deep affection for his horse. To protect his vulnerability from being exposed, after Jiang Xue Ning left, he kissed his beloved horse and then killed it with a knife, instructing the servants not to mention Jiang Xue Ning's visit to anyone.
Upon returning home, Jiang Xue Ning's father informed her about the decision to send her to the palace as a companion reader. Given Jiang Xue Ning's temperament from her past life, she would surely create a scene due to her father's favoritism. Therefore, both Meng Shi and Jiang Xue Ning were surprised to see her exhibiting remarkable composure.
Xie Wei arrived at the palace and proactively proposed to the Emperor to become Shen Zhi Yi's teacher. Seeing Xie Wei's consideration, the Emperor was pleased and had the maidens sent by officials reviewed by Xie Wei. Subsequently, he issued an edict for the chosen companion reader to enter the palace promptly.
The imperial edict arrived at the Jiang family's residence. Meng Shi was infuriated upon seeing Jiang Xue Ning's name written on the edict and loudly accused Jiang Xue Ning of scheming something. Jiang Xue Ning, feeling annoyed upon seeing her name on the edict, couldn't be bothered to explain and simply left.
However, Jiang Xue Ning received a gift from Jiang Xue Hui, who instructed her to be cautious and careful in the palace. Although Jiang Xue Ning appeared magnanimous, she still couldn't forgive her for what happened to Wan Niang. Before her death, Wan Niang left a bracelet for Jiang Xue Hui, asking Jiang Xue Ning to deliver it to her. Jiang Xue Ning revealed the bracelet and conveyed Wan Niang's message but refused to give it to her, bluntly stating that someone who didn't even acknowledge her birth mother wasn't deserving of that bracelet.
Despite Jiang Xue Ning's mockery, Jiang Xue Hui remained composed. After she left, Jiang Xue Ning suddenly felt that her sister was more suitable to be the Empress than herself.
Yan Lin came to find Jiang Xue Ning and told him about asking for Xie Wei's help to become Shen Zhi Yi's companion reader. Jiang Xue Ning only then realized that it was him who had been causing trouble in the matter.
Before entering the palace, Jiang Xue Ning went shopping and unexpectedly ran into You Fang Yin on the street. After Jiang Xue Ning saved her last time, he gave her some money. You Fang Yin came to repay the money, but Jiang Xue Ning noticed new injuries on her and told her to take the money and find a silk merchant named Xu Wen Yi. She instructed You Fang Yin to buy all the silk and sell it when the price goes up.
You Fang Yin couldn't understand why Jiang Xue Ning was being so kind to her, and Jiang Xue Ning simply said they shared a common fate, without revealing that You Fang Yin was the best palace maid to her in her previous life. To avoid Shen Zhi Yi, her archenemy, Jiang Xue Ning began planning to escape from this troublesome place once she entered the palace.
To become Shen Zhi Yi's companion reader, there were two assessments to pass: the first was an etiquette test, and the second was a cultural exam. They were received by Shen Zhi Yi's wet nurse, Rong Mama. In Jiang Xue Ning's previous life, she had been beaten by Rong Mama many times. Therefore, when she saw Rong Mama, Jiang Xue Ning pretended to sleep at first, then pretended to trip, and later even threw the makeup box on the ground. Despite all this, Rong Mama, who used to be fierce and evil, still had a smile on her face. The others were puzzled, wondering how Jiang Xue Ning managed to have such luck. Shen Zhi Yi came over and resolved their doubts.
Shen Zhi Yi held Jiang Xue Ning's hand and thanked her for helping him untie his inner knots. She also told Jiang Xue Ning something important: under normal circumstances, noble ladies who hadn't been reported wouldn't have the qualification to participate in the companion reading. It was Shen Zhi Yi who pleaded with the Emperor to add Jiang Xue Ning's name to the list.
Upon hearing Shen Zhi Yi's explanation, Jiang Xue Ning felt extremely bitter and decided to eliminate herself in the next cultural exam.
Ningning is insecure and unable to love others; she only knows how to hurt them. She believed that Shen Jie liked Xuehui and thought she had snatched Xuehui's marital fate. In reality, Shen Jie had always loved her. Shen Jie, being a timid and non-confrontational person, went against everyone's opinions to marry her as his empress.
Due to the Crown Prince's desire for Xue Ning, he heartlessly killed his brother and seized the throne, making Xue Ning's wish of becoming an empress come true. Unfortunately, until the end, Xue Ning didn't believe that she was worth being loved so much.