Episode 16 recap: The Princess of Ningguo has traveled to the southern lands with a hidden agenda.
At a critical moment, Yan Zhang Yun successfully framed Song Tingding, Xiao Quan's lackey, as the murderer of Chancellor Xiao, effectively eliminating a key threat to the imperial court. Fushao had been resentful about Initial Moon moving into Yan Zhang Yun's residence, and the Emperor, by bringing up Initial Moon, inadvertently gave Fushao an opportunity to discuss this woman, even offering to make her a lady-in-waiting, which Fushao declined.
Xiao Quan plans to use Princess Jiayang of Ningguo to counter Yan Zhang Yun, and deliberately announced the welcoming ceremony for the next month. The ministers dared not receive her, as Jiayang holds an extremely high position and has killed three consorts in the past. After the incident, the furious Emperor proposed that Fushao receive Jiayang, allowing Fushao to redeem herself and also conveniently leave the Jinrang Palace.
Fushao happily accepted the task and even paraded in her official attire at the Qianyu Guard. Yan Zhang Yun reminded Fushao not to take on this task, as Jiayang's reputation is not good, but Fushao brushed it off. Fushao and Yan Zhang Yun ceremoniously received Jiayang at the palace gate, where Bai Yi and his disciple Lier secretly observed Fushao. Lier reported to Bai Yi that Fushao's gaze towards Yan Zhang Yun clearly showed she had fallen in love, betraying her sect, but Bai Yi warned her not to make such presumptions.
When Jiayang stepped out of the carriage and gestured for Fushao to support her, Yan Zhang Yun noticed the symptoms of prolonged cinnabar and silver powder consumption and proactively supported her. Seeing Yan Zhang Yun's attentiveness, Fushao felt jealous. Bai Yi hoped that Lier and Fushao would continue to love and support each other, so that he could rest assured even after his passing.
Jiayang, representing Ningguo, came to negotiate the opening of trade routes. The Emperor and his ministers enthusiastically welcomed her. After the performance, Jiayang proposed a sword dance by Ningguo men, during which the swords of two performers broke and flew towards the Emperor and Fushao. Fortunately, Yan Zhang Yun knocked the swords away with his wine cup, and also saved Fushao.
Yan Zhang Yun immediately ordered the Qianyu Guard to apprehend the Ningguo dancers. Jiayang personally apologized and presented the prized Ngudai incense, a specialty of the Ningguo nobility. While everyone marveled at the exquisite fragrance, Yan Zhang Yun frowned. Jiayang proposed that Yan Zhang Yun become her personal bodyguard in the south, but Fushao was the first to object, and Yan Zhang Yun also found it inappropriate. However, the Emperor, driven by his own ulterior motives, readily agreed, hoping that Yan Zhang Yun would be taken by Jiayang, leaving Fushao for himself.
Later, Jiayang deliberately feigned drunkenness and leaned on Yan Zhang Yun. Yan Zhang Yun noticed a red mark on her hand and, in order to investigate the cinnabar and silver powder, escorted her back to her room.
Jia Yang made various excuses to get Yan Zhang Yun to attend to the princess, and Yan Zhang Yun discovered a strange fragrance on the princess's body. The princess specially gave Yan Zhang Yun a box.
After the dawn had intervened and successfully helped the princess return to her room alone, Yan Zhang Yun left with the imperial perfume. Bai Yi met with Xiao Quan and questioned why Xiao Quan had used Jia Yang, knowing that Jia Yang was his sister. Xiao Quan reminded Bai Yi that when he was expelled from the palace, Jia Yang did not help him.
Bai Yi, considering their kinship, reminded Xiao Quan not to go too far. The dawn's research found that the reason Jia Yang was liked by men was because of this perfume, so she and Knife Brother filled the room with the imperial perfume. Yan Zhang Yun told Wei Tian Jiao that the red mark on the princess's hand had the same pattern as the person who killed him as a child. Wei Tian Jiao analyzed that it might be due to an increase in body temperature after drinking, and proposed to go to Ning Guo to investigate.
At this time, the dawn was intoxicated by the fragrance and went mad in front of Yan Zhang Yun, even wanting to run away with him. Yan Zhang Yun, who also wanted this, promised to find out the mastermind behind this and give her an explanation. Jia Yang, whom Bai Yi had not seen for many years, expressed his apologies to him and wanted to take him back to Ning Guo, promising to take good care of his brother, but Bai Yi had already adapted to life in the south and could no longer walk, so he did not want to leave.
The court doctor carefully examined the imperial perfume and found nothing unusual. Yan Zhang Yun decided to send more perfume experts to assist in the investigation. The dawn took the opportunity to deliver breakfast to visit Yan Zhang Yun, but found him not in the room, so she returned with the breakfast. On the way, she passed by the princess's room and saw Yan Zhang Yun dining with the princess, and she was discovered by the princess, who invited her to dine together.
During the meal, when the topic of what kind of woman he liked was mentioned, Yan Zhang Yun directly said he liked the princess, who cared for the people.
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