Episode 1 recap: Xiao Dou Zi stole the Moon Treasure Pearl, and Mei Yu Shan met with Nan Gong Yao.
On a full moon night, the Mei family heiress Mei Yu Shan brought the street ruffian Xiao Dou Zi to an octagonal pavilion in a grand estate, hoping to exchange bodies using the same time and location, but after trying various methods, they were still unable to return to their original forms. What exactly had these two women experienced that made them go through such arduous efforts? It all started on the same night a year ago.
A new batch of antiques had arrived at the Imperial Palace Museum in the capital. Prince Nan Gong Yao was ordered to inspect them. Xing Shi first checked the museum's security, and the steward hurriedly made preparations, fearing the prince might be displeased. Outside, the street ruffian Xiao Dou Zi and his three mentors had been staking out the place for a while. Suddenly, they saw a sedan chair arrive, and Xiao Dou Zi quickly covered the four of them with a grass mat.
The sedan chair was carrying Mei Yu Shan. The prince had already arrived earlier, and the steward reported the progress of the museum's renovation to him. Mei Yu Shan was focused on admiring the rare treasures in the museum, not paying much attention to the rumors about the prince's good looks. However, her maid kept reminding her to show herself off more, so that she could make an impression on the prince before entering the palace.
Nan Gong Yao had severe OCD, and whenever he saw any item in the museum not placed symmetrically, he would stop and express his displeasure. The steward hurried about, trying to please him. Mei Yu Shan arrived at the exhibition hall first, and the prince entered the main hall later. Mei Yu Shan then hid behind a screen, and the steward reported that the hall was decorated with forty-nine silver wires, each with a bell at the end, so that any thief who entered would be difficult to escape.
Xiao Dou Zi and his three mentors overheard the steward's words and each brought a pair of scissors, ready to act separately. In the center of the main hall was a clay sculpture, which the steward only knew was a war trophy from the Battle of Sheng Dong, without further details. Mei Yu Shan went to the main hall and explained that the clay sculpture was a Wildcat Beast, adding many legendary details from books. Nan Gong Yao found it uninteresting and instead focused on the asymmetry of Mei Yu Shan's hairpin, then left early.
Xiao Dou Zi and his group snuck quietly into the main hall, with the eldest uncle on lookout duty and the second and third uncles disabling the bells. Xiao Dou Zi obtained the eyeball of the house cat monster, and as they were preparing to retreat, they accidentally brushed against a silver wire, causing the iron bell to start falling. Xiao Dou Zi quickly grabbed the wire, and the second and third uncles caught the suspended bell, avoiding disaster.
In the evening, the prince held a banquet to entertain the young ladies about to enter the palace. Each girl tried to showcase herself, with Su Ruo Mei, the daughter of Su Shen Hai, performing a dance that ended up attracting a swarm of flies, turning her into a laughingstock. Zhuang Yang Yang, the daughter of the minister Zhuang Fu Cheng, then appeared and accidentally tripped on the red carpet, taking a hard fall.
As Xiao Dou Zi's group prepared to leave, they were suddenly summoned by two eunuchs to light a charcoal fire for the prince's warmth, so the three uncles had to hide. In front of the prince, General Huang Qi's daughter Huang Yuan Yuan demonstrated her boxing skills, much to the prince's amusement, while Mei Yu Shan simply stood still, refusing to perform.
Tai Fu arrived at the imperial garden to discuss disaster relief measures with the prince. Xiao Dou Zi added more firewood and was then tasked with serving the prince wine. Standing beside the prince, Xiao Dou Zi couldn't help but see him as a walking fortune, having heard that the imperial palace was full of silver.
Tai Fu suggested the prince arrange for palace maidens to enter the palace to expand the royal lineage. Mei Yu Shan was pushed in front of the prince and accidentally fell, dropping her hairpin. Without the asymmetrical factor, the prince finally felt at ease. Xiao Dou Zi poured the prince's wine, and shortly after, the prince collapsed, revealing the wine had been poisoned. As Xiao Dou Zi prepared to leave, a lunar eclipse occurred, plunging the courtyard into chaos.
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