Episode 2 recap: Xue Fang Fei usurped Jiang Li's identity and returned to the capital
Xue Fang Fei proposed a win-win solution, threatening the Matriarch to recognize her as Jiang Li The Matriarch was concerned about Jiang Li's death and afraid that the Zhen Nü Hall would be investigated by the Prime Minister Xue Fang Fei said that since Jiang Li had been at the Zhen Nü Hall for decades, no one knew her appearance, so she could deceive everyone
The Matriarch suspected that Xue Fang Fei had other motives. Xue Fang Fei deliberately said that she wanted to enjoy the glory of the Prime Minister's daughter's identity, in order to allay the Matriarch's worries. The Matriarch agreed to her proposal and arranged for her to rest for seven days before going out. Tong Er overheard their conversation and mistakenly thought that Xue Fang Fei wanted to impersonate Jiang Li.
Xue Fang Fei and Tong Er buried Jiang Li, covering the soil with the pear blossoms she liked. Tong Er took out a dagger, wanting to kill Xue Fang Fei and accusing her of ingratitude. During the struggle, Xue Fang Fei grabbed the dagger and persuaded Tong Er to calm down.
She revealed her plan to live as Jiang Li in order to clear Jiang Li's name and punish those who had wronged her. Tong Er was initially flustered but felt Xue Fang Fei's reasoning made sense, and the two went back to discuss the matter further.
During the resting period, Tong Er was responsible for teaching Xue Fang Fei the "Female Precepts", and the Matriarch came to check on her progress from time to time, praising Xue Fang Fei's good needlework.
Xue Fang Fei accidentally saw the Matriarch hanging lanterns, and learned from Tong Er that the lanterns were to remind everyone to behave, as there were rumors of a female ghost haunting the mountain at night. Xue Fang Fei didn't believe in superstitions, and followed the Matriarch at night, discovering that the lanterns were hung at different heights, suspecting that the high ones were for the Matriarch to meet her lover.
To verify her suspicions, Xue Fang Fei observed that when the high lanterns were hung, the pavilion across from the Zhen Nü Hall could be seen. It just so happened that there was a mid-month ceremony, and Lady Liu from the Prime Minister's residence was coming to stay overnight at the Zhen Nü Hall. The Matriarch specifically ordered the place to be cleaned up to give Lady Liu a good experience. Xue Fang Fei learned from Tong Er that Lady Liu was Ye Zhen Zhen's, Jiang Li's mother's, good friend. Xue Fang Fei thought this was a good opportunity to go out, so she asked Tong Er to whip her, and then sent the hairpin to Lady Liu, hoping that Lady Liu would speak up for her.
Tong Er was reluctant, but still whipped Xue Fang Fei as requested, creating the illusion of long-term abuse. Xiao Heng tracked the young master Qin to the Zhen Nü Hall, and Qin master wanted to flee, but the front and rear doors were blocked by Wen Ji and Lu Ji. He then held Xue Fang Fei hostage with a knife, hoping to use her as an excuse to get Xiao Heng to let him go.
After listening to a few people's conversation, Xue Fang Fei realized that the person in front of her was Xiao Heng. She deliberately claimed that she and the young master Qin were accomplices in illegal salt trading, in order to make Qin let his guard down. Qin was caught, and inadvertently knocked off Xue Fang Fei's veil, revealing her true face to Xiao Heng and the others.
Wen Ji felt that Xue Fang Fei looked familiar, and Xue Fang Fei remembered that she had seen Xiao Heng on the street before. Xiao Heng recognized her appearance and asked if her surname was Xue, but Xue Fang Fei denied it. Xue Fang Fei demanded that Xiao Heng take her back to the capital city for questioning, and Xiao Heng knew she was acting and wanted to see her next move.
Tong Er brought Lady Liu, and just happened to see Xue Fang Fei being tied up by Xiao Heng. Lady Liu could not make a decision, and went to find the Dowager personally for help. The Dowager was fast asleep, and when she opened her eyes, she found her lover kissing her. Before she could react, the lover embraced her. The Dowager was worried about being discovered, and quietly checked outside but found no movement, so she indulged in intimate embraces with her lover.
Lady Liu and the virtuous ladies came to the Dowager's chamber, heard strange noises inside, and Lady Liu pushed the door open to see the Dowager and the man in an indecent act. Lady Liu was furious and had the two tied up and brought in front of Xiao Heng. The Dowager tried to explain that she was framed, unaware that the lantern had been hung up by Xue Fang Fei in advance, who had already detected the Dowager's fragrance of intimacy and deliberately exposed her lover.
Lady Liu reported the matter to the court, and her husband Liu Yuanfeng submitted a memorial mentioning this incident. Hong Xiaodi was listening to the report in the court about Jiang Yuanbai's embezzlement in the renovation of Empress Dowager Xia's mausoleum, and was scolded by Li Zhongnan. Both Liu Yuanfeng and Xiao Heng mentioned the Virtuous Ladies Pavilion incident, which made Hong Xiaodi very angry. He ordered Xiao Heng to thoroughly investigate, which reminded Jiang Yuanbai of his daughter Jiang Li.
Jiang Yuanbai told Ji Shuran about this, worried that the matter of Jiang Li would disgrace the reputation of the Jiang family as the Grand Councilor. Ji Shuran pretended to say that she would grandly bring Jiang Li back, which moved Jiang Yuanbai, who praised her broad-mindedness and lack of resentment.
Xue Fang Fei had already set up her scheme. She was brought back to the capital by Xiao Heng for interrogation, but Xiao Heng did not lay a finger on her, knowing that he had been used by her. He even had Wen Ji bring Tong Er back to take care of her. Xue Fang Fei demanded to see the Dowager and others, reminding them to keep quiet about the matter of Jiang Li, or else they would not be spared from the crime of murder by the Prime Minister Jiang and the court.
Comments(Episode 2)