Episode 9 recap: # Ziyu is Recruited by Shi Yikuan
In Episode 9, Liu Mian Tang and Cui Xing Zhou finally expressed what was on their minds, leaving them both feeling much lighter. That night, they sat together, chatting about everything under the sun. Liu Mian Tang even began to dream, imagining that once the pottery business got on track, they could hire a manager to help out, allowing them to travel freely or even have another child, enjoying a simple and beautiful life together. The thought made Liu Mian Tang smile brightly.
Meanwhile, Cui Xing Zhou was still preoccupied with how to capture Ziyu. Once Liu Mian Tang fell asleep, he quietly left the courtyard and headed to his secret room. There, a group of shadow guards had gathered, all dressed in disguise. They had stealthily entered the city without causing any trouble for the people of Qingzhou. The shadow guards had gathered detailed information about Ziyu's hiding place and his comings and goings, eagerly waiting to catch him the next day.
Early the next morning, Cui Xing Zhou led the shadow guards to surround Ziyu's residence so tightly that escape was impossible. With a command, the shadow guards rushed inside. However, at that critical moment, Shi Yikuan burst in with a team of guards, announcing that Ziyu had surrendered to the court and was no longer a criminal. He even presented a decree from the empress dowager as proof. It was clear that Ziyu was now aligned with Shi Yikuan.
Cui Xing Zhou realized he had arrived too late, but he still had an unresolved issue. He questioned Ziyu about the ambush that had taken place at night, despite his announcement of a ceasefire. Ziyu was taken aback and quickly explained that he knew nothing about it, suspecting it was Sun Yun Er acting on her own. In the end, Ziyu could only deflect Cui Xing Zhou's questions with the phrase, "All's fair in war."
Just as Cui Xing Zhou was preparing to withdraw, Ziyu suddenly spoke up, saying he and Liu Mian Tang were no longer connected and hoped Cui Xing Zhou would treat Liu Mian Tang well. Hearing this, Cui Xing Zhou felt a mix of emotions.
According to reason, things should have ended here, and Cui Xing Zhou should have set Liu Mian Tang free. However, he hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth to her so she could make her own decision. At that moment, the old woman stepped forward to speak on Liu Mian Tang's behalf.
She expressed her sympathy for Liu Mian Tang, recounting how she had suffered too much in the past—kidnapped by mountain bandits for three years and left on a cliff after having her tendons cut. The old woman’s words weighed heavily on Cui Xing Zhou's heart. Plus, since Liu Mian Tang had recently opened up to him, he found it even harder to tell her the truth.
On the other side, Shi Yikuan wanted Ziyu to eliminate Cui Xing Zhou in Qingzhou, but Cui Xing Zhou managed to escape. Shi Yikuan quickly sent a message to the empress dowager, seeking her guidance. To his surprise, the empress dowager ordered that Cui Xing Zhou should not be touched for the time being, giving Cui Xing Zhou some much-needed breathing room.
During this time, Cui Xing Zhou began quietly looking for a suitable family for Liu Mian Tang. The old woman provided him with a list of potential suitors, but Cui Xing Zhou dismissed them all, insisting on selecting someone himself to ensure Liu Mian Tang would have a good future and never have to worry about her livelihood.
Seeing Cui Xing Zhou so invested, the old woman didn’t press further; instead, she discreetly suggested that the suitors visit the pottery workshop to buy porcelain plates, hoping this would give Cui Xing Zhou a chance to observe them. However, Cui Xing Zhou was unimpressed by any of them.
By evening, noticing Cui Xing Zhou's deep concern for Liu Mian Tang, the old woman proposed sending Liu Mian Tang to her maternal grandparents’ home, as family is the closest support. Cui Xing Zhou fell silent upon hearing this, seemingly deep in thought.
Comments(Episode 9)