Episode 4 recap: # Liu Mian Tang's Struggling Porcelain Business
In Episode 4, Cui Xing Zhou often claims he's studying chess, but in reality, he's been keeping a close eye on Liu Mian Tang, much like a cat watching a mouse. One day, his subordinate reports that they've discovered a secret mark left by Lu Wen in the city, and Cui Xing Zhou is thrilled, feeling like it's New Year's Eve.
Upon closer inspection, the mark reveals a time and location, resembling a treasure map. He thinks to himself that it's finally time to reel in his catch but knows he must be discreet, so he quietly sends his trusted aide to stake out the area.
However, his subordinate rushes back to inform him that Liu Mian Tang has suddenly left in a hurry. Cui Xing Zhou immediately mounts his horse and stealthily follows her. But guess what? Liu Mian Tang isn’t meeting Lu Wen; she’s going to see her good friend Zhao Quan. They even head into a bamboo grove, making Cui Xing Zhou anxious, fearing Liu Mian Tang might be cheating on him.
But it turns out that Zhao Quan has gifted Liu Mian Tang a beautiful painting, and she loves it dearly. She insists on taking Zhao Quan to meet the painter and even wants to ask him for help with her porcelain designs.
This leaves Cui Xing Zhou feeling awkward. He has been overly suspicious about Liu Mian Tang, only to find that she’s genuinely focused on her business. The painter was initially hesitant, thinking Liu Mian Tang lacked sincerity, but when Cui Xing Zhou steps in and claims this is a shared wish of theirs as a couple, the painter finally agrees to help.
Meanwhile, Cui Xing Zhou is still keeping an eye on Lu Wen, only to discover that Lu Wen's boat has been waiting on the shore for a long time without anyone showing up, so it leaves. On the boat, Cui Xing Zhou notices the name Shi Yi Kuan, realizing that these people are likely connected to him.
Liu Mian Tang's porcelain shop has opened, and the items are indeed beautiful, but the prices are shockingly high, making them unaffordable for most. Just when Liu Mian Tang is feeling disheartened, a wealthy customer arrives and buys up all the porcelain in the store.
Liu Mian Tang was overjoyed, but when Cui Xing Zhou saw the patterns on the porcelain, he realized they were the same secret designs he had shown her before. It turned out Liu Mian Tang had indeed incorporated those patterns into her porcelain, suggesting she had truly forgotten about their past.
The next day, however, business was still slow, and Liu Mian Tang looked dejected. Seeing her like this, her mother-in-law comforted her, saying big clients like that don’t come around every day. But then she accidentally let it slip, and Liu Mian Tang guessed that Cui Xing Zhou was behind the purchase.
Even though she knew Cui Xing Zhou did it to cheer her up, Liu Mian Tang seriously asked him not to deceive her again.
Cui Xing Zhou needed to return home for his mother’s birthday celebration. To his surprise, Shi Yi Kuan also showed up, using the Empress Dowager’s favor to pressure Cui Xing Zhou at the banquet, demanding he surrender his military power.
Cui Xing Zhou was prepared; he presented the national defense plans, stating he wanted to serve both the people and the court, and even planned to improve irrigation. With that, Shi Yi Kuan had nothing further to say and could only agree to stay and see how he would manage the dikes.
Additionally, Cui Xing Zhou had a cousin named Lian Ruilan, and they were betrothed. At the banquet, Lian Ruilan was very affectionate towards Cui Xing Zhou, but unfortunately, he didn’t feel the same way. His mother saw Lian Ruilan’s powerful family as a good match and insisted on finalizing the marriage. Although Cui Xing Zhou was reluctant, he felt he had no choice but to accept.
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