Episode 12 recap: Shi Zi and Li Teng Yun were thrown into a dungeon.
Pei Lan woke up and saw two maids standing by her window, which startled her. The maids were attentive in serving her for dressing and grooming, but Chun Pei Lan couldn't enjoy such service. Lu Bu Ping was preparing to sweep the floor with a broom when he noticed a servant already cleaning. Every move and technique showed that the servant was skilled. Lu Bu Ping recognized that the servant was using the Cross Swordsmanship of the prestigious Wei Feng Dart Bureau. He approached the servant and requested a sparring match. However, the servant remained modest and seemed to be concealing his true abilities.
Chun Pei Lan took a basket to go out and buy groceries, but the two maids quickly intercepted her, taking the basket from her to go shopping instead. Lu Bu Ping even noticed that the maids were proficient in light-footed techniques. Pei Lan felt anxious, thinking that the servants were taking care of all her tasks, leaving her useless. On the other hand, Lu Bu Ping saw this as an opportunity to focus on improving his martial arts skills without any effort since everyone in Shi Zi's residence seemed unfathomable.
After waking up, Du Ru Yu walked around aimlessly, feeling that everything in front of her was unreal. At that moment, Xin, the steward, came with a group of people to greet her. He asked Du Ru Yu what she wanted for breakfast, but she was about to refuse, saying that Pei Lan could prepare something simple. However, Jin Rong rushed in with a pile of clothes and interjected, saying that they should serve according to the standards. After Xin and his group left, Jin Rong excitedly told her mother that she found many beautiful clothes and an abundance of jewelry that couldn't be worn all at once.
Du Ruyu advised against it, as they were just here temporarily, but Jin Rong believed that she would eventually enjoy everything here, so she might as well start her internship early. Pei Lan habitually went to the kitchen to make breakfast, but she was surprised to find that the chefs here were extremely skilled. She casually mentioned that her mother had a picky palate, and Chef Cai personally took charge and soon prepared a table full of poultry and fish. When Du Ruyu saw the lavish breakfast, she felt it was excessive, but Jin Rong thoroughly enjoyed it. Ke Ling casually remarked that it was better than the food at Chunjiang Tower, which surprised Du Ruyu as she learned that Ke Ling had been to Chunjiang Tower before.
Du Ruyu felt that it was inappropriate and wanted to pay Shi Zi some rent. Just when she was worried about not having enough money, Guo Zhensheng approached her with a jewelry box. To Jin Rong's surprise, it was her own box containing the money she had painstakingly saved. However, Guo Zhensheng handed it to Du Ruyu without hesitation, infuriating Jin Rong. Ling Wang was angered upon learning that Shi Zi had lent Shi Zi Mansion to the Chun family, considering him a prodigal and ordering him to leave. Shi Zi walked back with frustration and happened to run into Li Tengyun, whom he grabbed and started beating. Du Ruyu went to find Shi Zi, offering to pay five taels of silver as rent, but Shi Zi impatiently declined. Du Ruyu felt that he was just being sarcastic, leading to an argument between the two.
Du Ruyu returned home in a huff, while Jin Rong enjoyed the service of the maidservant, who massaged her feet and back. Du Ruyu had a change of heart and decided to enjoy herself as well. She loudly ordered the servants to cook ten boiled eggs for her. After eating to her heart's content, Du Ruyu realized that she hadn't paid her husband's memorial tablet proper respects. She hurriedly brought her daughters to set up the tablet and offer incense. Upon discovering that Ke Ling was not present, Du Ruyu became angry. Xing, the steward, proactively offered their hidden guards to secretly watch over the Fourth Miss. Lü Buping felt that the situation was becoming increasingly complicated. Xing came to see Du Ruyu and informed her that the funds in their account had run out. They were now treated as pay-for-service, meaning that without money, those services would no longer be provided.
Du Ruyu was shocked to learn that the daily service fee was 100 taels, while Jin Rong wanted Xing to continue staying even if it meant accumulating debt for a couple of days. However, Xing remained unmoved and left Shi Zi Mansion with his subordinates. After seeing all the servants leave, only Pei Lan appeared particularly happy as she had a chance to prove her worth again. Shi Zi had Li Tengyun beaten and locked up, and when Ling Wang found out, he interrogated Li Tengyun to learn the truth. He discovered that they had been committing heinous acts behind his back, including murder and arson. Out of anger, Ling Wang imprisoned both Li Tengyun and Shi Zi in the dungeon, forbidding anyone from releasing them without his permission.
The plot is not only comedic but also absurd. There's no need to exaggerate the characters to such an extent. Each daughter highlights their personality flaws, without any shining moments.
It's already a surprise that Chun Ke Ling, who slaps people at the drop of a hat, hasn't ended up in jail. And she's paired with a prince who is intellectually challenged and solely exists for the sake of comedy.
It's not like there are no other characters besides the Chun family. All the conflicts revolve around them, without any significant context or background. There are no villains, and the values of the 21st century are forcefully imposed on the historical backdrop, completely disregarding the era's context.
The eldest sibling does nothing all day long, the second sibling works like an ox, the third sibling always looks down on others from a moral high ground, and the fourth sibling might have anger management issues, constantly resorting to violence, even slapping people.
Can't they at least refrain from hitting people in the face? And what's with that Shi Zi? Is he and his group of guards just there for sightseeing? It's frustrating.
If that Shi Zi were to take things seriously, the whole family would be in trouble, and even Si Huang Zi wouldn't be able to protect them.