Episode 1 recap: Gu Yan and Xi Hua met on the street for the first time.
On a stormy night, the elderly official Hua Yi Zheng of the Hua family was writing a letter on a boat when suddenly a strong wind blew and water flooded onto the boat. In this critical moment, they needed to lower the sails immediately, but the hired servants went on strike due to payment issues. Seeing the situation, the young Hua Zhi acted without hesitation. She picked up a dagger from the ground and climbed up the mast, cutting the canvas to save everyone.
The next day, the Shen family was scheduled to come and finalize the marriage arrangements, but Hua Zhi was not in a hurry like her maid Bao Xia. Hua Zhi told Bao Xia that even if they got married, they must insist on pursuing their own interests. Hua Zhi looked at the surrounding houses and felt trapped like in a cage. At this moment, another maid of Hua Zhi, Ying Chun, came and told her that everyone was waiting at Cheng Garden for the peach tokens bestowed by the palace.
Hua Zhi was excited after hearing this and, accompanied by Bao Xia and Ying Chun, headed towards the western corner gate. Uncle Zhong was already waiting there with a horse carriage. Hua Zhi instructed Ying Chun to guard the gate while she and Bao Xia boarded the carriage and left. Cheng Garden was bustling with activity. In a room directly facing the stage, the third wife of the Hua family, Xia Jin E, was having the servants settle accounts. Suddenly, she felt that the charcoal basin in front of her was too crowded, so she asked the servants to move it. It happened to be placed right in front of the second wife, Qi Hui Lan, and the first wife, Zhu Ying Zhen. Although Zhu Ying Zhen wanted to go outside for some fresh air, Qi Hui Lan brought up the matter of the old lady, instantly dispelling her thoughts.
Qi Hui Lan then turned to the fourth wife, Wu Yu Niang, and Wu Yu Niang mentioned that it was a bit hot. So Qi Hui Lan ordered a maid to open the window. Seeing this, Xia Jin E simply asked to have all the windows opened. Since the peach tokens arrived late at night, the elderly Mrs. Lin Wan from the Hua family watched the play while waiting with everyone else.
The patrol officer Chen Qing and his men were searching the streets. They stopped the carriage Hua Zhi was riding in after discovering her blueprint at a bronze ware shop. Women from noble families should not show their faces in public, but Chen Qing relentlessly pursued the matter. Shen Qi, a young man from the Shen family, couldn't stand it and protested, but the patrol officer forcibly threw him aside. Shen Qi refused to back down and drew his sword, and in that critical moment, Gu Yan Xi shielded Shen Qi behind him.
Gu Yan Xi recognized that the blueprint depicted a bronze crow of the Xiang Feng style, but Shen Qi doubted Gu Yan Xi's identity and demanded to take him back to the Seven Constellations Bureau.
Hua Zhi knew the power of the Seven Constellations Bureau and quickly jumped off the carriage to defend Gu Yan Xi. After revealing her identity, Chen Qing repeatedly apologized to Hua Zhi. Hua Zhi envied Gu Yan Xi for coming from the northern region and lamented that she hadn't seen snow in the imperial capital in the four years she had been there. In the late night, the Emperor summoned Hua Yi Zheng and his eldest son, Hua Pingyu, and they dressed in official attire and went to the palace. In Cheng Garden, the various wives were still enjoying the acrobatic performances. Xia Jin E reported to Lin Wan about Hua Zhi's marriage arrangements and took the opportunity to make sarcastic remarks and taunt Hua Zhi.
Only then did Lin Wan realize that Hua Zhi was not present among the people in the room. A servant reminded her that Hua Zhi had gone out. Lin Wan became furious. In the late night, Emperor Gu Chengtao summoned Gu Yan Xi, the Crown Prince of Ling, and told him there was something to discuss. In the main hall, Gu Chengtao mentioned the case of the private minting investigated by the Crown Prince and the Seven Constellations Bureau. Hua Yi Zheng, who had always been willing to offer advice, remained silent on both matters, which was unusual.
Curious, Gu Chengtao questioned why Hua Yi Zheng had no opinion. Hua Yi Zheng bluntly stated that these were private matters of the Emperor and whether he offered advice or not was irrelevant. Gu Chengtao was displeased. He had personally established the Seven Constellations Bureau, and his sons, Crown Prince Gu Yanrui and Prince Gu Yangong, were involved. It was not an exaggeration to say that these were private matters. Tension gradually built in the atmosphere, but Hua Yi Zheng showed no fear and openly spoke about how the Seven Constellations Bureau disregarded the laws of the country and carried out excessive executions. The position of the Crown Prince remained undecided, and the princes were engaged in constant infighting. For the sake of the nation, a decision should be made soon. In this sense, both of these matters were affairs concerning the entire kingdom, not just the Emperor's private matters.
Gu Chengtao became furious. He accused Hua Yi Zheng of inciting scholars throughout the country and revoked Hua Yi Zheng's official position and those of his three clans. The entire family was banished to the northern region and would never be employed again. Gu Chengtao summoned Shi Qi, the head of the Seven Constellations Bureau, to the palace, and Shi Qi claimed that Gu Yan Xi was the mastermind behind the case of the private minting.
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