Episode 4 recap: The portrait emerged victorious, but Mei Yu Shan cheated at the Chongwen Library.
Xiao Dou Zi began painting a portrait of Mei Yu Shan, but Mei Yu Shan completely refused to cooperate, and instead fell asleep on the desk. However, this did not affect Xiao Dou Zi's painting, as no one knew that the subject was actually Xiao Dou Zi himself, so he could paint it without needing to observe the person.
In the Chongwen Library, Tai Fu was lecturing, but the princes sitting below him were dozing off. Tai Fu asked Nan Gong Pin how to manage a household, and Nan Gong Pin, whose mind was full of the new court ladies he had learned about, rambled on about how to treat one's wife, leaving Tai Fu at a loss and annoyed.
Mei Yu Shan and Xiao Dou Zi followed the crowd to the Chongwen Library, and when the people heard that the Crown Prince had already left the court, they were quite disappointed. Mei Yu Shan, feeling mischievous, tricked the other three young ladies into thinking the Crown Prince had just passed by, causing them to scramble to catch a glimpse of him and fall to the ground one after another.
Just as Mei Yu Shan was secretly delighted, Nan Gong Yao suddenly stood by her side, and the eunuch Song announced that the Crown Prince would temporarily suspend his court duties and study at the Chongwen Library for a while. The princes were all very pleased, and the three young ladies were the most excited, competing to sit next to the Crown Prince. Tai Fu, seeing that the princes had no interest in studying, simply left the Chongwen Library, allowing them to freely arrange their seats.
Everyone wanted to sit on the Crown Prince's left and right sides. Song set up two colored bamboo sticks, and whoever drew them would get to sit next to the Crown Prince. The Eighth Prince Nan Gong Pin drew one, and Mei Yu Shan, in order to get closer to the Crown Prince and obtain the Moon Spirit Pearl, cheated to get the other one. After they were seated, the Crown Prince ordered everyone to leave the study hall, leaving only Mei Yu Shan behind.
First, Mei Yu Shan had approached the Crown Prince at the museum, and then she appeared at the Jizhi Palace, specifically entering the court to get closer to him. The Crown Prince had seen Mei Yu Shan's cheating tactics, and therefore questioned her about her true intentions.
Mei Yu Shan expressed that she had a delicate matter she couldn't discuss, but the Moon Spirit Pearl was very important to her and she hoped to have it returned soon. The Crown Prince scolded Mei Yu Shan for not understanding etiquette and not respecting herself, then angrily left the room.
Several portraits were brought before the Empress for evaluation. The Empress immediately took a liking to Mei Yu Shan's portrait, and based on the painting's elegant and refined depiction, she assumed that Mei Yu Shan must be as cultured and dignified as the image. Only the eunuch Song knew Mei Yu Shan's true demeanor from the actual event, but he did not want to expose the handmaids' deception in front of the Empress.
Since the portrait had won first place, Mei Yu Shan was arranged to stay in a luxurious guest room. Mei Yu Shan was amazed by the lavish decor, but Xiao Dou Zi insisted that Mei Yu Shan sleep on the floor, as he had always slept alone. Mei Yu Shan didn't mind, saying she was willing to endure some discomfort, and Xiao Dou Zi, feeling sorry for her, agreed they could share the bed.
The room was filled with many precious treasures that Mei Yu Shan had never seen in her life. She picked up a duster, intending to tidy up, but then remembered she was now the mistress. She instructed Xiao Dou Zi to clean the room instead. Knowing how much Mei Yu Shan cherished the ornaments, Xiao Dou Zi deliberately broke a few valuable vases, causing Mei Yu Shan great distress and making her decide never to assign maidservants again.
Hearing that the Crown Prince was staying in the East Palace, Mei Yu Shan planned to sneak in. When the Crown Prince left with Xingyao, Mei Yu Shan approached the door, where the eunuch Song was arranging some fruit. Mei Yu Shan attacked Song from behind, knocking him unconscious. Seeing the token on the table, Mei Yu Shan quickly stripped off Song's clothes, intending to disguise herself as him to enter the East Palace. However, Song regained consciousness and, seeing someone undressing him, began to shout. Unable to carry out her plan, Mei Yu Shan had to flee in disarray. Guard Pei soon arrived, and Song described the assailant's build, hoping to quickly apprehend the culprit.
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