Episode 11 recap: # The Fake Cui Jiu Appears
In Episode 11, Cui Xing Zhou takes every opportunity to spend time with Liu Mian Tang, cherishing their rare moments of tranquility. Liu Mian Tang feels warm inside; ever since Cui Xing Zhou returned from Qingzhou, he's transformed. He’s more dedicated to his work and goes out of his way to help manage the shop, showing her even more care and thoughtfulness. It’s like basking in the gentle sunshine of spring.
One day, while they stroll hand in hand and chat happily, a rough man suddenly appears and addresses Liu Mian Tang as “my lady,” claiming to be “Cui Jiu.” Liu Mian Tang is taken aback, while Cui Xing Zhou remains composed and quietly observes. Furious, Liu Mian Tang confronts the man. Unfazed, he pulls out a marriage certificate, asserting they have a prior engagement, even stamped with an official seal, and insists that Cui Xing Zhou produce his own certificate to compare.
As Liu Mian Tang examines the document, doubts fill her mind. The man claims to be from Dingzhou, but the certificate clearly states a different location, which raises her suspicions. Thinking quickly, she suggests taking both Cui Xing Zhou and the impostor to see an official. Although caught off guard, Cui Xing Zhou has no choice but to follow her lead. Once in a secluded area, Liu Mian Tang swiftly uses her hairpin to deal with the man’s henchman, prompting Cui Xing Zhou to jump in as well. Together, they quickly subdue the fake Cui Jiu.
It turns out this entire scheme was orchestrated by Sun Yun Er. Jealous of Liu Mian Tang, she fabricated the marriage certificate and hired a rogue to impersonate Cui Jiu, intending to unsettle Liu Mian Tang. However, her plan backfires when Liu Mian Tang sees through it.
Liu Mian Tang confronts Sun Yun Er, demanding to know why she tried to harm her. Sun Yun Er, filled with malice, admits she has always disliked Liu Mian Tang. The look in her eyes sends a chill down Liu Mian Tang's spine; she recognizes that expression from before, when she and Cui Xing Zhou hosted a dinner. Everyone was smiling, except for Sun Yun Er, who wore a face of jealousy that Liu Mian Tang has never forgotten.
Sun Yun Er, realizing her plot had been exposed, decided to go all in and ordered her men to attack Liu Mian Tang. Just in time, Cui Xing Zhou’s shadow guards appeared and subdued all of Sun Yun Er's henchmen. While Liu Mian Tang was surprised, she was also curious about how the shadow guards arrived so promptly.
Cui Xing Zhou smiled and explained that they were righteous warriors and had agreed to escort Sun Yun Er to the authorities.
The next day, Cui Xing Zhou personally interrogated Sun Yun Er, pressing her about her relationship with Lu Wen and why she wanted to harm Liu Mian Tang. With no way out, Sun Yun Er reluctantly revealed the truth: she was on a mission to retrieve the silver that Liu Mian Tang had allegedly stolen from Lu Wen. Just as they were about to uncover the mastermind behind the scheme, Lord Gongsun Yan from the court arrived, stating that Sun Yun Er was now a person under amnesty and could not be tortured. He insisted that Cui Xing Zhou release her.
After the commotion, Liu Mian Tang felt anxious and uneasy. She began searching her house for the marriage certificate she shared with Cui Xing Zhou but couldn’t find it anywhere. The maid comforted her, suggesting that the certificate might have been lost during their move. Seeing the maid's distressed expression, Liu Mian Tang didn’t press further and reluctantly dropped the matter.
Before long, the Prince of Huaiyang was set to marry, and Cui Xing Zhou had to return to the royal residence to help with the preparations. To ease Liu Mian Tang's worries, he made up a story, saying his master needed him to go up the mountain to study chess and that he couldn’t take any family members with him. Though Liu Mian Tang felt reluctant, she forced a smile and saw Cui Xing Zhou off.
Before leaving, Cui Xing Zhou promised repeatedly that he would return home as soon as he finished his studies and not keep Liu Mian Tang waiting too long.
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