Choice Husband Episode 11 Recap
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Shen Miao found herself facing a mysterious man who interrogated her about the paternity of her unborn child. She skillfully dodged his questions, asserting that the baby was undeniably hers. When the man pushed for a direct answer regarding the father, Shen Miao reminded him of their agreement for only one question and challenged his own identity. Moments later, Pei Yanzhen arrived with a group of officials who hailed the man as "Your Majesty," revealing him to be the Emperor.
The Emperor lightly chided Pei Yanzhen for his swift appearance, questioning if it was for him or for Shen Miao, and then teasingly remarked that Pei Yanzhen, like a vixen, had given his heart to another, implying Shen Miao. The Emperor then dismissed everyone, stating he was traveling incognito and wished to avoid disturbing the populace. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager met with Shen Qian at Shen's Residence, announcing her intention to have dinner there that evening to observe Shen Miao.
She returned Shen Qian's offer of his residence, explaining that while seizing Shen's Rice Shop was not her initial desire, it became necessary due to Shen Miao's entanglement with influential court officials and future royal merchant candidates, which otherwise could have brought misfortune upon the Shen family. She expressed keen interest in Shen Miao, the woman who had captivated two talented men. The Emperor had privately discussed with Pei Yanzhen the true purpose of his visit.
He admitted coming to see if Shen Miao, who had so moved Pei Yanzhen, was indeed the "ugly and virtueless" woman Shen Qian had once claimed. The Emperor reassured Pei Yanzhen that he bore no resentment over the Shen family's refusal to marry Shen Miao into the imperial family.
However, he revealed that he and his mother were in Lingzhou to investigate a matter linked to Shen Miao: the vast fortune left by the former court purveyor, the Lu family, which the Empress Dowager believed was now in Shen Miao's possession. He then asked Pei Yanzhen how he thought his mother would treat Shen Miao, given this information.
Across the lake, Shen Miao observed the Emperor and Pei Yanzhen, perceiving their relationship as a complex mix of friendship and rivalry. She confided in Song Xiyuan, suspecting that the Emperor and Empress Dowager's visit to Lingzhou might be aimed at the Shen family, a concern Song Xiyuan quickly dismissed as unfounded for mere merchants. Shen Qian, eager to impress, presented the Empress Dowager with a peculiar-looking brick tea, which she found off-putting in both appearance and aroma.
Despite her clear reluctance, Shen Qian enthusiastically insisted on brewing the century-old "treasure." Before the Empress Dowager could taste it, the Emperor arrived, admiring Shen's Residence and playfully reproaching Shen Qian for concealing Shen Miao's beauty. He then took the Empress Dowager's place, sampled the unusual tea, and, despite his initial reaction, pronounced it "a nice tea." Shortly after, Jingde, the Emperor's eunuch, arrived at Shen's Residence to summon Shen Miao to a feast.
He announced that the Emperor wished to share a fish feast, featuring fish he had personally caught, with everyone. Shen Miao, pregnant and weary, attempted to decline, but Jingde firmly stated that an imperial decree could not be defied, adding that a sedan chair had been prepared by the Empress Dowager out of consideration. At the feast, the Empress Dowager warmly greeted Shen Miao, praising her beauty and charm and noting her captivating effect on two young men.
Pei Yanzhen and Song Xiyuan exchanged apprehensive glances, sensing an undercurrent of tension. When the Empress Dowager offered Shen Miao a rose pie, Pei Yanzhen promptly intervened, explaining that roses stimulate blood circulation and were unsuitable for pregnant women. Next, she offered fried Chinese yam, which she deemed appropriate, but Song Xiyuan quickly interjected that Shen Miao disliked yam, declaring his unwavering devotion to his wife even if it risked imperial displeasure.
The Empress Dowager playfully "punished" Song Xiyuan by making him consume the entire plate of yam. Shen Qian then seized the moment, requesting Shen Miao's early departure due to her pregnancy-induced aversion to the smell of fish and meat. The Emperor supported this, acknowledging Shen Miao's exhaustion from their earlier lake trip. The Empress Dowager eventually consented but insisted that Shen Miao first drink a bowl of fish soup, personally prepared by the Emperor.
As a precaution, Pei Yanzhen, Song Xiyuan, Shen Qian, and even the Emperor all drank a bowl of the soup alongside Shen Miao. Later that evening, after Shen Miao was escorted back to her room under the pretense of illness, concerned family members called for a physician. The physician, however, found Shen Miao's pulse normal and no signs of poisoning, attributing her "symptoms" to a mosquito bite, hair loss (a common pregnancy occurrence), and smeared lip balm.
Shen Miao clarified that she was in perfect health and that someone had deliberately fabricated her illness to remove her from the feast. Despite the physician’s reassurances, Pei Yanzhen remained alert. He discreetly observed Jingde, the Emperor’s eunuch, noticing his pale fingertips emitted a subtle herbal scent, suggesting recent, prolonged contact with herbs. Pei Yanzhen concluded that the strong flavor of the fish soup might have been used to conceal a harmful substance.
He dispatched Zhan Yue to search the Shen's Residence kitchen for the specific herb, warning that Shen Miao's life might be in peril. Zhan Yue found the herb, which Pei Yanzhen identified as Wen Hao from the Nan Realm. He explained that Wen Hao has male (crimson) and female (white) plants that grow symbiotically.
The crimson male plant can induce labor and cause a pregnant woman to fatally hemorrhage within two hours of ingestion, while the white female plant serves as its antidote. Convinced the culprit would have a hidden supply of the antidote, Pei Yanzhen instructed Zhan Yue to retrieve the white Wen Hao, while he would keep the Empress Dowager and Emperor occupied.
Pei Yanzhen skillfully prolonged a game of chess with the Empress Dowager, engaging the Emperor in discussions about strategy to buy Zhan Yue crucial time. Meanwhile, Zhan Yue located the antidote within the palace grounds, but was discovered by Ninth Princess, whose screams alerted nearby guards. Zhan Yue quickly concealed himself and pleaded with Ninth Princess for help, reminding her of their previous encounter and his connection to Pei Yanzhen.
Acknowledging him as Pei Yanzhen's guard, Ninth Princess agreed to assist. She created a dramatic diversion by tearfully accusing Jingde of peeking at her while she was changing. Amidst the ensuing chaos and as the Emperor and Empress Dowager were distracted by the princess's accusations, Ninth Princess subtly passed the antidote from Zhan Yue to Pei Yanzhen.
The Empress Dowager, discerning the true intent behind the commotion, declared to Pei Yanzhen that she would watch to see how he intended to save Shen Miao. Back at Shen's Residence, chaos erupted as Shen Miao suffered excruciating pain and severe bleeding. Physicians, summoned in haste, declared themselves powerless, advising the family to brace for the worst. Song Xiyuan desperately tried to enter the delivery room but was blocked by guards, who cited Shen Qian’s strict orders.
In her agonizing moments, Shen Miao experienced vivid hallucinations, seeing Pei Yanzhen's image and reliving their past together. Through these fragmented memories, she recognized the depth of her feelings for him. Faintly, she asked Madam if Pei Yanzhen had arrived, but was told he could not enter a delivery room. Just before losing consciousness, Shen Miao saw Pei Yanzhen entering the delivery room, seemingly holding a bowl of medicine. After that, she remembered nothing, as the frantic maids urged her to stay conscious during the baby's delivery.
