Episode 2 recap: Grandmother Framed
In Episode 2, early in the morning, Luo Shen Yuan gazes gently at Luo Yi Ning, who is peacefully sleeping on the mat in the ancestral hall. Unlike the other gentle and well-mannered girls in the Luo household, she remains carefree even when punished to kneel, easily drifting off to sleep.
Soon, the grandmother personally enters the hall to bring Luo Yi Ning back. On the way, Luo Yi Ning pleads with her grandmother to forgive Luo Shen Yuan, and then they return to the family residence together. During the journey, Luo Yi Ning curiously asks about Luo Shen Yuan’s background. The grandmother softly explains that while he is referred to as the Luo family's young master, he is not related by blood to Luo Yi Ning. He is the son of a maid and a male servant, taken in by Luo Yi Ning’s father to avoid family shame.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yi Ning feels a mix of emotions. She recalls the scar on Luo Shen Yuan's wrist, a reminder of an incident from years ago. Determined to help him, she decides to take her maid Qing Qu with her to perform acupuncture on Luo Shen Yuan.
Surprisingly, this scar is linked to her own past—when they were children, she mischievously asked Luo Shen Yuan to climb a tree to pick dates for her, and he fell, injuring his wrist. However, during the acupuncture session, Luo Shen Yuan remains unusually calm, showing no signs of pain.
After returning to her room, Qing Qu expresses her concerns to Luo Yi Ning. Normally, such a serious injury would cause significant pain, hindering movement, yet Luo Shen Yuan moves with ease. Luo Yi Ning starts to suspect that he might have ulterior motives, perhaps wanting to see her cherished paintings.
At that moment, news from the Jiang family creates tension in the Luo household. The Jiang family has proposed that if the marriage engagement is not called off, they would be willing to take Luo Yi Ning as a concubine. This message is a clear insult to the Luo family. The scheming stepmother is secretly pleased, believing this would ensure Luo Yi Ning's downfall in the Jiang family. She seizes the opportunity to whisper in Luo Yi Ning's father’s ear, suggesting it's a good chance to climb the social ladder.
Confusingly, Luo Yi Ning’s father agrees. Initially, she planned to return to her own courtyard after celebrating her grandmother's birthday, but seeing her grandmother's worsening health, she decides to stay and care for her. Knowing her grandmother has a heart condition, she is determined to keep the news of her potential marriage to the Jiang family a secret, fearing it would trigger her grandmother's illness. She repeatedly instructs the maids to take great care of her grandmother and to ensure she remains unaware of the situation.
However, the stepmother secretly spreads the news, and ultimately, the grandmother learns the truth, causing her health to rapidly decline. The doctor strictly orders the Luo family not to upset the elderly matriarch, but if Luo Yi Ning truly marries into the Jiang family as a concubine, it would only worsen matters. Luo Yi Ning understands that this is all the stepmother's doing.
Burning with anger yet remaining calm, she begins to devise a plan. For the sake of her grandmother’s health and her own dignity, she resolves to take action, expose the stepmother's schemes, and protect the honor and peace of the Luo family.
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