A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Episode 8 Recap
> A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Recap
"""[Recap]""" The southern salt route has encountered significant issues, preventing goods organized by Xizhao from entering, and the route is continuously monitored by patrolling guards. Qian Jiu suspects that Noble Consort Zhuo's arrangements were not meticulous enough. With an increasing number of complaints lodged against them, the authorities have gradually become aware of the private salt smuggling via sea routes.
Zhuo Wenyuan believes it is time to temporarily lay low and is also contacting land routes, hoping to establish connections with local merchants and diversify their transport lines to mitigate losses. Qian Jiu expresses concern about the reliability of these local merchants, but Zhuo Wenyuan assures her that people are always drawn by profit, and as long as one is willing to share, allies will emerge.
Qian Jiu acknowledges that salt smuggling is foundational to the Zhuo family's wealth and trusts Zhuo Wenyuan's judgment, urging him to quickly manage the new shipment. Zhuo Wenyuan explains he will delegate this to a trusted follower as he cannot leave Bianjing, admitting that his preoccupation stems from concerns for Sang Qi, whom Yan Yunzhi's men are constantly protecting. He notes Sang Qi's naive understanding of love and fears unforeseen complications if he doesn't personally oversee her.
Qian Jiu observes his unusual, worried demeanor, but Zhuo Wenyuan insists his actions are for the greater good, as the Sang family's future cooperation is integral to their plans, also reminding Qian Jiu of his promises to Xizhao. Furthermore, Zhuo Wenyuan knows that Qian Jiu was responsible for the assassination attempt on Sang Qi at the villa. If the plan fails, she can hide her identity, and Sang Qi will trust her even more, but she cannot hurt Sang Qi.
Yan Yunzhi, intending to investigate Qian Jiu at Qingfeng Restaurant, unexpectedly encounters Zhuo Wenyuan there. Qian Jiu seizes the opportunity to fetch her pipa to entertain them. As she moves, Yan Yunzhi subtly flicks a coin towards her. Though trained in martial arts and instinctively aware of potential dangers, Qian Jiu skillfully suppresses any outward reaction. The coin merely brushes her hair, and she calmly smooths it back, betraying no sign of disturbance.
Meanwhile, Yan Yan tells Sang Gong and Sang Qi that he has found the "white-robed old man" she sought. Sang Gong, overhearing Yan Yan mention the old man is still single, mistakenly believes Yan Yan is arranging a marriage for Sang Qi with a sixty-year-old man. Enraged, he chastises Yan Yan for misleading his precious daughter. Sang Qi quickly clarifies that the person in question is her savior, not a suitor.
Upon hearing this, Sang Gong's anger dissipates, his expression softens, and he praises Yan Yan as a good child, instructing his treasurer to prepare a generous amount of gifts to satisfy her benefactor. Following the map, Sang Qi and Yan Yan journey to Lingwu Mountain.
As they near their destination, Sang Qi expresses suspicion about the map's extraordinary clarity, noting that it meticulously details the most convenient route from Bianjing to Lingwu Mountain and even precisely marks the small house, as if to ensure they could not miss it. She finds it odd for an elusive master to be so conspicuously located. Yan Yan admits he obtained the map from a man at Qingfeng Restaurant.
Fearing a potential trap, Sang Qi instructs their accompanying family members to wait, deciding to scout ahead with Yan Yan. Upon entering, Sang Qi announces their presence, seeking her white-robed benefactor. They are invited in, and to Sang Qi's astonishment, not only do they find the white-robed master, Yan He Xing, but also Yan Yunzhi.
Sang Qi expresses surprise at Yan Yunzhi's presence during his holiday and disappointment that he did not inform her of his relationship with Yan He Xing, his second uncle, earlier. Yan Yunzhi playfully retorts that she never asked him directly, despite his attempts to offer help back at Qingfeng Restaurant. Sang Qi, delighted by the unexpected revelation, is eager to have Yan He Xing accept both her and Yan Yan as disciples.
She attempts to perform a traditional bow, emphasizing that seniority does not matter, only that they learn from him. However, Yan He Xing stops her, stating his aversion to taking disciples, citing the trouble and noise they bring. Sang Qi portrays herself as a humble, untalented, and low-profile individual who would never bring him fame or trouble, thus fitting his image as an elusive master.
Yan He Xing, however, sees through their facade, exposing Sang Qi as the Grand Commandant's daughter, raised in the frontier, and the Imperial College's first female student, while identifying Yan Yan as the Grand Preceptor's notorious son. He tells Yan Yunzhi to manage his own students, permitting them to stay for a few days but firmly refusing to take any disciples.
In a flashback to three days prior, Yan Yunzhi had already sought out Yan He Xing to persuade him to take Sang Qi as a disciple. Yan He Xing, however, was adamant in his refusal. He cynically notes Yan Yunzhi's past obsession with Sang Yu and his current unease regarding Sang Qi, teasing him for his persistent focus on the Sang family.
Yan Yunzhi declares his sole aim is for Sang Qi to acquire martial arts skills for her own self-preservation. Despite his initial reluctance, Yan He Xing, swayed by his nephew's unwavering determination, finally concedes to test Sang Qi. Back in the present, Yan Yunzhi informs Sang Qi and Yan Yan that Yan He Xing will test their sincerity and tasks them with retrieving a jar of his personally brewed mountain wine before nightfall.
Soon after setting off, Yan Yan steps into a hidden trap in the bamboo forest, twisting his ankle. Sang Qi leaves Lian Pian to stay with Yan Yan and continues the wine retrieval with Yan Yunzhi. As Sang Qi and Yan Yunzhi enter the wine cellar, white feathers suddenly cascade from above, surrounding Yan Yunzhi.
Recognizing his acute fear, Sang Qi quickly takes charge, jumping onto his back to shield his eyes and directing him forward to navigate through the space, successfully retrieving the wine. Back at the house, Yan Yunzhi angrily confronts his second uncle about the goose feathers, realizing he was deliberately targeted. Having successfully completed the wine retrieval, Yan Yunzhi presses Yan He Xing about taking disciples. Yan He Xing agrees to break his rule but dismisses Yan Yunzhi briefly.
He explains to Sang Qi and Yan Yan that due to his limited energy, he can only accept one disciple, but the other may remain as a "miscellaneous errand runner," still able to observe and learn from his teachings. Both agree to these terms. Yan He Xing then presents the final challenge: they must retrieve Yan Yunzhi's personal middle garment. Sang Qi is hesitant, acknowledging the impropriety for a woman to obtain a man's intimate clothing.
However, seeing Yan Yan's immediate and confident acceptance of the challenge, her competitive spirit is ignited, and she resolves to secure the garment. During dinner, Sang Qi attempts her strategy. She "accidentally" spills wine on Yan Yunzhi's clothes, then apologizes profusely and offers to help him bathe and wash his soiled garments. Yan Yunzhi agrees to bathe but politely declines her offer to wash his clothes, then attempts to stay in the bathing area.
Yan Yunzhi, realizing her intent and finding it inappropriate for her to remain, repeatedly tells her to leave. After she finally retreats, he later confronts her, seeing through her scheme, and reveals that Yan Yan has already outsmarted her. Moments later, Yan Yan appears triumphantly, holding Yan Yunzhi's middle garment, claiming he obtained it fairly. He reminds Sang Qi that she has lost.
Yan He Xing then declares Yan Yan his official disciple, warning Sang Qi not to bully his new student and giving her a choice: accept the role of a miscellaneous errand runner or leave.
