Episode 6 recap: Fan Zhong Ju wholeheartedly completed the novel "Shanhe Jing" (Mountains and Rivers Classic).
Fan Zhong Ju, due to taking the imperial examination in advance, approached Wu Yu and Wu Yu as they were known in the market, seeking test questions from them. In order to help him focus on his studies, the others prepared nutritious meals for him every day. Wu Yu and Wu Yu pretended to be mysterious, saying that his manuscript lacked depth and the push-pull of extremes. In order to help Fan Zhong Ju pass the examination, Gu Chuan and Liu Lang purposely presented a successful image.
Fan Zhong Ju sought out Wu Yu and Wu Yu, specifically asking them for advice on writing examination essays, but they brushed him off and told him to go home and find inspiration to write on his own. Fan Zhong Ju went to a tavern, where the others specially arranged a banquet. The surprising theme of the banquet was that the imperial examination was actually going to be held five days later. Fan Zhong Ju felt anxious because he hadn't prepared yet, while the others seemed to have obtained a question bank from somewhere. He spent the whole night writing his novel, completely neglecting the question bank.
In his dream, he encountered many people urging him to write a book. He suddenly woke up and realized he had fallen asleep. Xie Quan Jia held a meeting for everyone, where he couldn't be disturbed by anyone or anything. Gu Chuan suggested that he wear purple clothes, and Liu Lang advised him to practice light exercises, symbolizing the ease of accomplishing tasks. Xie Quan Jia proposed that they communicate with Fan Zhong Ju using poetic verses in the future.
Fan Zhong Ju thought that as long as he had the question bank, he had nothing to fear, so he decided to start by writing about martial arts secrets. Everyone brought food, making humorous puns to wish him success in the imperial examination. A maid held a manuscript, hoping that Fan Zhong Ju could help copy the calligraphy of Li Tu. However, the princess pulled her back and warned everyone not to disturb Fan Zhong Ju. Fan Zhong Ju remained engrossed in writing the martial arts secrets and didn't even glance at the question bank.
Upon waking up, Fan Zhong Ju immediately sought advice from Liu Lang on the top martial arts skill of the Tang Sect. Liu Lang's three sentences couldn't be separated from the peacock feather, wasting the entire morning. That night, while Fan Zhong Ju was revising, Yu Huan approached him with a letter, seeking his advice and expressing her admiration for Li Tu. Fan Zhong Ju envied the support that Yu Huan silently gave to Li Tu. Excitedly, Yu Huan watched as Fan Zhong Ju helped her revise her manuscript, and due to their intimate interaction, they both awkwardly looked at each other.
The next day, Xie Quan Jia advised Yu Huan not to disturb Fan Zhong Ju, as he was in the midst of the examination period. Although he knew that she liked Li Tu, he still wanted to give her the jade hairpin as a gift for Fan Zhong Ju, symbolizing his success in the examination and return to his hometown in glory.
Actually, last night Xie Quan Jia unintentionally witnessed the intimate behavior between Yu Huan and Fan Zhong Ju and felt that they were a perfect match.
Fan Zhong Ju asked Wu Yu and Wu Yu to review his initial draft of the martial arts secret book. They pointed out that his ideas were mediocre, so he had to go back and revise it again. Yu Huan presented the jade pendant to Fan Zhong Ju as a token of gratitude for his calligraphy skills. However, she discovered Fan Zhong Ju's writing of the "Shanhe Jing" novel, which left her disappointed. In order to allow him to focus on the examination, everyone agreed not to disturb him, but he continued to write the novel.
Fan Zhong Ju was unsure whether to continue writing the novel or pursue official positions. His confusion evoked sympathy from Yu Huan, who offered to keep it a secret for him. Before leaving, Yu Huan took the "Shanhe Jing" with her. The next day, Yu Huan finally received a reply from Li Tu through her carrier pigeon. She eagerly read the letter, while Xie Quan Jia received a pigeon in the courtyard from an unknown sender and decided to cook it as a brain supplement for Fan Zhong Ju.
Inspired by Yu Huan's insights, Fan Zhong Ju incorporated a romantic subplot into the "Shanhe Jing," and this revised version was approved by Wu Yu. She returned home to continue consulting with Yu Huan. Yu Huan firmly believed that the letter brought by the carrier pigeon was from Li Tu and that she knew him personally. Ren Shu informed Fan Zhong Ju about Yu Huan's immersion in Li Tu's letters and proposed that they pretend to be Li Tu and communicate with Yu Huan to protect her from being deceived.
That evening, Liu Lang handed the well-simulated letter to Yu Huan, and it was evident that she didn't recognize it as Fan Zhong Ju's calligraphy. Yu Huan and Fan Zhong Ju discussed the "Shanhe Jing" and continued to guide each other's thoughts in their respective secret writings. As they spoke, they grew more and more compatible, and their hands inadvertently touched. Suddenly, Yu Huan realized something was wrong and quickly withdrew her hand and escaped.
On the day of the examination, while looking at the jade pendant, Fan Zhong Ju remembered Yu Huan and his own dreams. He tore up the completed manuscript and, within half an hour, wrote what he believed to be the right answers, no longer considering others' opinions. As he wrote, he fantasized about being a skilled martial artist with companions supporting him, working together to defeat their enemies. They emerged victorious, and the title of his examination essay turned out to be "Shanhe Jing." It turned out that he had incorporated the novel into his answer.
Comments(Episode 6)