Episode 5 recap: Hua Qian organized a birthday banquet for Zhong Ye Lan.
Hua Qian was very surprised to see Zhong Xi Wu saying that Hua Shen often appeared at Wanhua Lou. Hua Qian hastily made excuses for her brother, and Zhong Xi Wu asked Hua Qian how to resolve it. Hua Qian reluctantly knelt in front of Zhong Xi Wu to apologize.However, Zhong Xi Wu did not make things difficult for Hua Qian. Zhong Ye Lan came over to take Hua Qian away. On the way back, she was still thinking about how to change Zhong Xi Wu's view of the Hua family. In the past, she would tell Zhong Ye Lan all her thoughts, but this time she just daydreamed without saying a word.
Hua Qian felt she could smell incense all along, but Zhong Ye Lan said there was no incense in the carriage. That night, Hua Qian's room was a bit cold because the window was not closed properly. She originally wanted to close the window, but then decided to leave the window open and continue sleeping.
The next day, Qian Zhi found that Hua Qian had a fever, so they urgently called a doctor. The doctor said she had probably caught a cold and advised Hua Qian not to be in the wind anymore. Hua Qian actually wanted to use this opportunity to avoid going to the Zhong residence. When Zhong Ye Lan learned of this, she asked her subordinates to call Hua Qian's family over. Hua Qian convalesced at the mansion every day. Today, the eldest princess was still a bit worried since Hua Qian did not come, so she asked Su Wu Niang to send some tonics over.
Meng Yi Fei sometimes also helped manage affairs at the Zhong residence. She actually admired Zhong Xi Wu very much. Meng Yi Fei said the lady also sent tonics to Hua Qian, and he suddenly recalled that this was because of yesterday's matter.
Mu Yao was doing chores when Hua Shen came over to flirt with her again, but she ignored him. Her mother and Hua Shen came to her residence. Her mother knew that Hua Qian had resolved her brother's mistake last time, so she hastily told Hua Shen to send something to please his sister.
Hua Shen also casually said that the female servant in Zhong Ye Lan's study was very beautiful. Hua Qian worried that her brother would harm their family, so she sternly warned him not to flirt with others. Hua Qian also told her mother to go back and convey the message that Zhong Xi Wu had long seen through the Hua family's schemes and asked her father not to go wrong anymore. However, she did not tell her husband about this matter when she went back.
When Hua Qian was sunbathing in the courtyard, she saw the servant girls chatting and laughing. At first, Qian Zhi reprimanded the servant girls, but Hua Qian stopped him. Through the servant girls, she learned that a very handsome guard had come. Hua Qian was originally a bit curious and wanted to take a look, but was stopped by Qian Zhi.
Qian Zhi also said that Zhong Ye Lan's birthday was in half a month, and asked Hua Qian if she was preparing anything. Now, Hua Qian no longer cared about Zhong Ye Lan at all and did not even remember his birthday. Hua Qian suddenly recalled that Mu Yao and Zhong Ye Lan's fate started from his birthday.
In fact, when Zhong Ye Lan was young, on his birthday, he always knelt at his mother's spiritual tablet. Mu Yao kept persuading Zhong Ye Lan, and then took him to release living things. The two also played in the river. Afterwards, Zhong Ye Lan asked her name, but Mu Yao did not say it at the time since she wore a veil to cover her face which had red rashes. Zhong Ye Lan gave her his jade pendants instead.
Thinking of these, Hua Qian felt quite troubled, after all, Zhong Ye Lan now mistakenly thought it was Hua Qian. Suddenly, Hua Qian recalled that Zhong Xi Wu came unexpectedly during the last birthday banquet and also took a fancy to Mu Yao. She decided to take this opportunity to properly divert Zhong Xi Wu's attention so that he would stop focusing on the Hua family.
Qian Zhi informed Zhong Ye Lan about preparing for his birthday. At first, Zhong Ye Lan said he did not want to celebrate, but upon learning that Hua Qian had started preparing half a month in advance, he agreed. Hua Qian also knew that Zhong Xi Wu would come today, so she asked Qian Zhi to start preparing.
Sure enough, when Zhong Xi Wu learned that Hua Qian was hosting a family banquet for him at home today, he also intended to go back together. All of this was within Hua Qian's plan. During the meal, Hua Qian took out her zither and let Mu Yao play, although Mu Yao was initially unwilling due to her status as a servant, she agreed in the end.
Last time, Hua Qian played herself and even taunted Mu Yao, but this time she took the initiative to let Mu Yao perform, so she would not become a laughing stock again.
After watching the fifth episode, I was totally hooked. I initially thought it was a female-centric story where the protagonist changes her past life and lives a fulfilling life.
However, out of curiosity, I checked the original work and realized it's actually a heart-wrenching story. I saw how the protagonist ruins her own life and everything falls apart.
Deep down, I still have a glimmer of hope, hoping that the TV drama's storyline will be different.