Choice Husband Episode 17 Recap
> Choice Husband Recap
Pei Yanzhen enjoyed more time with Shen Miao and their son, Xiao, bringing them much joy. Shen Miao was secretly preparing for their wedding, and Pei Yanzhen, with a little prompting, soon discovered her plans. She realized the immense cost of holding a wedding, especially since their first wedding had been arranged by her father, Shen Qian, who was now away. An edict from the Empress Dowager arrived at Shen's Residence.
Fearing Pei Yanzhen would be taken away on fabricated charges, Shen Miao frantically rushed to the Foyer to find him. In her haste, she stepped on some broken pieces and injured her foot. Pei Yanzhen appeared and immediately ordered a maid to fetch medicine for her. He explained to Shen Miao that the Empress Dowager, having heard of his excellent culinary skills, had summoned him to the palace to cook.
Worried for his safety, Shen Miao implored him to be cautious. Pei Yanzhen gave Shen Miao a scrimshaw deer charm, sharing a personal story of how it had once saved his life when he was a child, assuring her it would protect her from any danger. Shen Miao cautioned him that the capital, especially close to the Empress Dowager and Qin Zuze, was a treacherous place, emphasizing that his life was paramount. He reassured her that he would return safely.
Showing her deep care for his well-being, Shen Miao meticulously packed many items for his journey. As he left, Pei Yanzhen promised to return soon, leaving a beautiful hairpin as a token of his pledge. Meanwhile, Qin Miuzhen reported to her father, Qin Zuze, that Pei Yanzhen had fallen into their scheme. With Shen Qian now away, they saw a prime opportunity to move against the Shen family.
Qin Miuzhen expressed her anticipation of gaining immense military power and wealth, believing the empire would be theirs once the Emperor and Pei Yanzhen were eliminated. Qin Zuze instructed her to spare Shen Miao, as per an arrangement with Song Xiyuan, despite Qin Miuzhen's strong dislike for him. Qin Zuze explained that Song Xiyuan was a necessary tool for their current plans and could be discarded later.
Qin Miuzhen voiced her unease at how smoothly their plot was unfolding, prompting Qin Zuze to dispatch her to Lingzhou while he proceeded to the palace. Elsewhere, Song Xiyuan observed Qin family soldiers mobilizing. He covertly questioned a servant, catching snippets of conversation about "Lingzhou" and the "Shen family," which confirmed his suspicions of an impending attack on the Shen family.
At home, Shen Miao tried to entice Xiao to fly kites, but he preferred to immerse himself in books with his great-uncle. He quoted classical texts about gentlemen avoiding danger and even chided his mother for running around with an injured foot. Shen Miao also agreed to let Pei Yanzhen's parents visit Xiao at the residence. Pei Yanzhen received a letter from Song Xiyuan, detailing Qin Miuzhen's plan to attack the Shen family.
He immediately ordered Zhan Yue to return to Lingzhou to protect Shen Miao. Zhan Yue expressed concern for Pei Yanzhen's precarious position in the capital, reminding him of a five-year bet he lost to Pei Yanzhen years ago, which bound him to serve him. Despite the inherent dangers and his initial reluctance, a deep, brotherly bond forged through years of shared hardships compelled Zhan Yue to agree.
Pei Yanzhen, acknowledging the dire situation, revealed a contingency plan: if he were to fail and perish, Zhan Yue must conceal the truth from Shen Miao, arrange for the Shen family to sever all ties with him, and ensure Shen Miao and Xiao marry Song Xiyuan as a strategic safeguard against Qin Zuze. This would, at the very least, secure the Shen family's lives.
Pei Yanzhen, reflecting on his past driven by hatred and his initial calculating motives in marrying Shen Miao, now vowed to strive for success and live an honest life. Zhan Yue, despite finding the plan bewildering, reluctantly agreed to fulfill this final request. Back at Shen's Residence, Lvying summoned a non-local physician for Shen Miao's persistent foot injury, as other local doctors were hesitant to treat them after the controversial pregnancy announcement.
The physician, speaking in an unclear dialect, diagnosed Shen Miao's parrot with "lost voice." However, both Lvying and Shen Miao repeatedly misunderstood this as the parrot having "lost its virginity," leading to a humorous yet dramatic lamentation over the bird's supposed lost chastity. The physician clarified, explaining the parrot's throat was swollen from spicy food and prescribing a soothing medicine for it, as well as an herbal remedy that would heal Shen Miao's foot in three days.
He then delivered a shocking revelation: Shen Miao's pulse indicated she had been consuming contraceptive medicine, which was detrimental to her liver and kidneys and could endanger her life. Shen Miao was stunned, adamant that she had never taken such medication. Lvying, indignant, dismissed the physician as a "worthless quack" and expelled him from the residence. Shen Miao, however, remained deeply troubled and suspicious. Later, the now-recovered parrot began to mimic fragments of overheard conversations.
It repeated phrases like "wonderful plan, Song Xiyuan allies, catch them off guard," and alarmingly, recited the precise details of the Shen family's vast assets—161 stores and 18 river routes—figures known only to Shen Qian and Pei Yanzhen. It then echoed Pei Yanzhen's voice, discussing the "Qin family collapsed, how to arrange Shen family? Shen family will be annihilated." Shen Miao was horrified, struggling to reconcile these words with the man she believed she loved.
The parrot's revelations, coupled with the physician's warning about contraceptive medicine, made her question everything: Pei Yanzhen's hidden martial arts skills, his past declarations of love, and the possibility that their entire relationship was a "show" orchestrated to marry her off to Song Xiyuan. She recalled his affectionate words in prison and his thoughtful shadow puppet gifts, desperately clinging to the hope that his feelings were genuine.
Yet, the parrot continued to repeat Pei Yanzhen's callous pronouncements about annihilating the Shen family and seizing their wealth, plunging Shen Miao into profound despair. Overwhelmed by betrayal and sorrow, she became oblivious to a small fire igniting a curtain in her room. Lvying entered, quickly extinguished the flames, and then found Shen Miao unconscious on the floor. In the capital, Pei Yanzhen covertly entered the Emperor's chambers.
Simultaneously, Qin Zuze and Song Xiyuan arrived, demanding an audience with the Emperor. A palace official blocked Qin Zuze, citing the Empress Dowager's orders for the ailing Emperor to rest. Qin Zuze insisted on seeing the Emperor to report urgent military matters. Song Xiyuan then intervened, offering to enter on Qin Zuze's behalf to avoid further complications and to shoulder responsibility for any "break-in," thereby discreetly protecting Pei Yanzhen's presence.
Inside, an eunuch confirmed to Qin Zuze that the Emperor had been unconscious for days with no signs of recovery. Qin Zuze, claiming his role as the Emperor's uncle, then took charge of guarding the Emperor. Upon awakening, Shen Miao was informed by Madam that Shen Qian had entrusted the Shen family's official seal to Pei Yanzhen before his departure.
Realizing the profound implications of this, Shen Miao immediately ordered the housekeeper to seal all Shen family accounts, strictly forbidding anyone from accessing funds without her or her father's explicit permission. She then instructed Lvying to prepare a carriage without delay to retrieve Xiao from Pei's residence, fearing for his safety in light of her discoveries.
