A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Episode 21 Recap
> A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Recap
At the martial arts tournament, Sang Gong declared that the winner of the duel between Yan Yunzhi and Zhuo Wenyuan would marry Sang Qi. Song Jiayin, furious at the prospect, urged her brother Song Luotian to challenge Zhuo Wenyuan instead, despite Sang Qi's protests that Song Luotian was already married and shouldn't interfere. Yan Yunzhi, eager to proceed, called for the match to begin.
As Sang Gong initiated the contest, Zhuo Wenyuan immediately launched a fierce offensive, leaping towards Yan Yunzhi. Yan Yunzhi deftly parried Zhuo Wenyuan’s flying kick and swiftly evaded further attacks. Zhuo Wenyuan continued his relentless assault while Yan Yunzhi remained on the defensive. Lian Pian, observing from the side, found it amusing, expecting grand declarations of love before the fight, but instead witnessing an immediate, silent clash.
Zhuo Wenyuan, growing increasingly frustrated by Yan Yunzhi's constant defense, intensified his attacks, feeling disrespected. Yan Yunzhi finally shifted to offense, delivering a powerful blow to Zhuo Wenyuan’s stomach. Though clearly in pain, Zhuo Wenyuan recovered and resumed his furious attacks, but ultimately fell. As he lay on the ground, Zhuo Wenyuan suddenly produced a hidden weapon. Yan Yunzhi, with quick reflexes, dodged it just in time, but Sang Qi’s heart tightened as she watched.
Yan Yunzhi swiftly ended the fight, throwing Zhuo Wenyuan out of the ring. Sang Gong stepped onto the platform, raised Yan Yunzhi's hand, and declared him the victor. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Sang Qi joyfully embraced Yan Yunzhi. Zhuo Wenyuan, still recovering, asked Yan Yunzhi what he would have done if he had lost and had to give up Sang Qi.
Yan Yunzhi confidently asserted that failure was impossible, as he firmly believed he was the only one who could truly care for Sang Qi. After the contest, Yan Yan rushed forward to congratulate them. Lian Pian, worried about Madam Yan’s reaction, urged him to go home. However, Yan Yan dramatically announced that Madam Yan had disowned him and he intended to marry into the Sang family. He then bowed to Sang Gong, loudly addressing him as "Father."
Overwhelmed, Sang Gong feigned illness and quickly fled the scene. Meanwhile, Zhuo Wenyuan returned home where his aunt, concerned about his loss in the duel, advised him against being emotional. She suggested he consider marrying Song Jiayin to strengthen their family’s alliance with Grand Tutor Song, ensuring greater influence and stability.
Later, Yan Yunzhi discussed a significant clue with Sang Qi: they had both detected the same unique Xizhao spice on Song Jiayin that Yan Yunzhi had smelled in the warehouse days earlier. Song Jiayin herself had claimed this spice, brought by her father Grand Tutor Song, was exclusive to Bianjing, thus directly linking the Song family to the illegal goods.
At the Prefecture Court, Yan San Lang was analyzing the case with Yan Yunzhi when Yan Yan and Song Luotian began bickering loudly about their newly assigned positions. Yan Yunzhi devised a plan to subtly use Song Luotian to investigate the Song family. Yan San Lang presented a batch of seized Xizhao plants, tasking both Yan Yan and Song Luotian with identifying and documenting them within a strict timeframe.
Song Luotian's visibly confused reaction indicated his unfamiliarity with the plants, confirming Yan Yunzhi's suspicion that he was unaware of his family's illicit activities. Yan Yunzhi concluded that prematurely dismissing Song Luotian would alert the Song family, and it was better to use him to gather information. Sang Qi, thrilled to be back at the Imperial College Archive, began organizing the books. She was surprised to find Zhuo Wenyuan there.
He claimed to be searching for an official register, but he lingered, attempting to engage her and asking if she would sever ties with him just because he lost the duel. Sang Qi tried to politely dismiss him, but he remained. As night fell and Sang Qi dozed off from exhaustion, Zhuo Wenyuan approached her quietly. She awoke just as he leaned closer, quickly sitting upright.
When they tried to leave, they discovered the Archive door had been locked from the outside. Unbeknownst to Sang Qi, this was orchestrated by Zhuo Wenyuan himself. Concerned by Sang Qi's absence from her residence, Yan Yunzhi went to the Imperial College. Finding the main gate secured with a complex serial lock, he forcefully kicked it open and rushed inside. He found Sang Qi and Zhuo Wenyuan.
Yan Yunzhi directly confronted Zhuo Wenyuan, reminding him that he had won the duel and Sang Qi was now his fiancée, sternly warning him against further boundary-crossing. Yan Yunzhi then took Sang Qi into his arms. Sang Qi expressed that if he didn't want her alone with other men, he should also avoid being alone with other women. Yan Yunzhi, realizing his fault, responded that he was worried about her and should have better protected her from Zhuo Wenyuan's persistence.
Sang Qi then quickly explained that Zhuo Wenyuan was there on official duty. Yan Yunzhi, while trusting Sang Qi, expressed his annoyance at Zhuo Wenyuan constantly "pestering" her and declared his intention to marry Sang Qi sooner to prevent such situations from recurring. To further prevent Zhuo Wenyuan from having solitary opportunities with Sang Qi, Yan Yunzhi enacted a new policy: the Imperial College Archive would now be open to the entire city, including women, for study.
He privately explained this was a strategic move to gradually accustom the Imperial College community to the presence of women, paving the way for future female student enrollment, a long-held dream of Sang Qi and her late brother. The Archive quickly became a bustling hub, filled with eager readers. Yan Yunzhi noted that Sang Qi's busy schedule would keep her preoccupied, and Zhuo Wenyuan would be deterred from bothering her in public.
Despite the increased crowd, Yan Yunzhi’s aide pointed out that Sang Qi was now attracting attention from many other men. Yan Yunzhi initially appeared jealous but quickly rationalized it as concern for Sang Qi’s workload, to which Sang Qi reassured him of her unwavering affection. Hearing the news, Song Jiayin, determined to meet Yan Yunzhi and assert her future role as his wife, arrived at the Imperial College dressed in ostentatious attire, causing a commotion.
Before entering, she told her aide that she needed to remind Yan Yunzhi of her status and overpower Sang Qi as the Archive's curator. She immediately called out Sang Qi's name. When Sang Qi politely suggested her noisy accessories were disturbing others, Song Jiayin accused her of jealousy, asserting her right to be there as anyone could enter. As Song Jiayin refused to leave and challenged Sang Qi to forcibly remove her, Zhuo Wenyuan intervened, lifting Song Jiayin and carrying her out of the Archive.
