Choice Husband Episode 22 Recap
> Choice Husband Recap
Song Xiyuan presents medicine and a parrot to Xu Sheng, who initially tries to dismiss him. However, when the parrot, which Song Xiyuan dramatically claims he risked his life to steal from the Regent's son, recites a chivalrous poem, Xu Sheng is charmed and finds the name "Regent" strangely familiar. Song Xiyuan then asks her to accompany him to a place.
Xu Sheng explicitly states she will not marry him but, as a return favor, eventually agrees to go with him to help him block drinks. At Guchun Restaurant, Song Xiyuan quickly becomes inebriated and complains that Xu Sheng is eating instead of helping him with his drinks. Xu Sheng, calling him useless, takes pity and goes to get him a specific tea, "Maojian tea leaves from Xinyang, rainwater, tepid."
Meanwhile, Pei Yanzhen, who is blind, and Xiao arrive at the same restaurant. When no one attends to their table, Xiao offers to find a waiter. This is due to Pei Yanzhen's inconvenience, as Shen Xiao had been cold towards him since Shen Miao's apparent death two years prior. Downstairs, Xu Sheng mentions "Shen's family" while talking to a waiter.
Xiao overhears this, rushes to Xu Sheng, hugs her leg, and joyfully exclaims that she is his mother and he has finally found her after two years. Xu Sheng, who only has fragmented memories, is startled and denies having such a big son. She flees upstairs, leaving a heartbroken Xiao behind. Upstairs, Xu Sheng finds Pei Yanzhen being harassed by several young men who mock his blindness.
She intervenes, declaring herself Xu Sheng, a chivalrous escort, and uses Pei Yanzhen's walking staff to fight them off. She loudly announces her name and residence, "the first house by Shuangshi Bridge," challenging them to return. Pei Yanzhen, recognizing her voice as Shen Miao's, tries to prevent her from leaving and asks her name again. Xu Sheng dismisses his gratitude, stating it is her duty to help, and departs. Pei Yanzhen, left alone, murmurs her name, "Xu Sheng."
Downstairs, Song Xiyuan spots the blind Pei Yanzhen approaching and quickly pulls Xu Sheng into a room, shutting the door to keep Pei Yanzhen from seeing them together. Xu Sheng confronts Song Xiyuan, demanding an explanation. He spins an elaborate, fabricated tale, claiming their visit to the restaurant was for the Dragon Boat Festival, the day they supposedly first met five years ago.
His story portrays himself as a virtuous scholar and Xu Sheng as a "plunderer" who fell in love with him and then into a river, leading to their marriage after he saved her. Xu Sheng repeatedly interrupts, expressing disgust at his self-praise and pointing out inconsistencies in his narrative.
When she finally steers him back to her relationship with the blind man, Song Xiyuan dramatically claims Pei Yanzhen was a villain who "killed everyone in your hideout" and is now blind due to "karma." He warns her that Pei Yanzhen is after her life and she must stay far away from him. Disgusted by his lies and manipulative behavior, Xu Sheng orders Tie Niu to throw Song Xiyuan out.
Later that evening, Xiao is distraught, insisting to Lvying that his mother is alive, but Lvying does not believe him. Pei Yanzhen comforts Xiao, affirming his belief that Xu Sheng is indeed Xiao's mother, Shen Miao, based on her voice. Zhan Yue reports that Xu's Escort Agency was indeed attacked two years prior, leaving only a daughter named Xu Sheng, but since he did not see her face, he dismisses the possibility that she is Shen Miao.
He urges Pei Yanzhen to abandon this "false hope," but Pei Yanzhen remains resolute. That same night, the young masters Xu Sheng had encountered earlier attempt to set Xu's Escort Agency on fire. Xu Sheng catches them and forces them to have supper with her. Discovering their fathers are officials, she questions them about the Regent, hinting at "old grievances."
The young masters, after some drinking, reveal that the Regent is a "cold-blooded man" who cunningly deceived both Shen Miao and His Majesty. They acknowledge his current blindness as a form of karma. It is then that Xu Sheng realizes the blind man she defended earlier was the Regent. The anxious young masters warn her of the Regent's ruthless reputation, detailing the severe consequences for those who offend him.
Xu Sheng then dismisses them, instructing them to charge the meal to their fathers. Meanwhile, Song Xiyuan is informed that Xu Sheng is missing and, convinced that Pei Yanzhen has abducted her, leads his men to Pei Yanzhen's residence. He confronts Pei Yanzhen, accusing him of theft. Pei Yanzhen, who is blind, calmly states he is only in Weiyang to seek a cure for his eyes and, denying any abduction, offers Song Xiyuan to search his premises.
Song Xiyuan, wary of Pei Yanzhen's composure, suspects a trap and, realizing Pei Yanzhen shows no knowledge of Shen Miao being alive, decides against searching. As he leaves, he warns Pei Yanzhen he will avenge Miao's death, blaming him. Pei Yanzhen retorts that Song Xiyuan also shares responsibility for Miao's demise, asserting that their past friendship ended with her death and threatening consequences if he causes further trouble. Later, Song Xiyuan receives news that Xu Sheng has been found.
He finds her intoxicated by a river, hearing children call out "Mother." Xu Sheng complains about being confined to the escort agency and expresses her desire for adventure. Song Xiyuan promises to take her to "traverse the martial arts world" if she pledges to stay by his side in Weiyang, ensuring no one can take her away again. Xu Sheng agrees, and as she drifts to sleep, she murmurs "Pei Yanzhen."
The next morning, Xu Sheng wakes up to find Song Xiyuan and his men with exaggerated injuries, claiming she beat them severely during a drunken rampage the previous night. Song Xiyuan even asserts he had to "sacrifice himself" by holding her to stop her. Though skeptical, Xu Sheng partially believes them, lamenting her poor alcohol tolerance and agreeing to stay indoors. She tries to recall the details she learned about the Regent, but her drunken memory fails her.
Her parrot then suddenly calls out "Xiao," startling Xu Sheng, who questions the bird about the name. The parrot flies away, and she follows. Elsewhere, Xu Sheng, chasing her escaped parrot, follows it into a kitchen area and discovers Xiao hiding in a corner. Xiao, upon seeing her, immediately calls her "Mother." Xu Sheng tries to correct him, asking him to call her "Sister" instead.
Despite her initial resistance, she is moved by his pitiful appearance and feels a sense of fate between them. She agrees to take him along, provided he promises to be obedient and not cry or make a fuss. She then leads him off to continue searching for her bird. Xiao proves to be well-behaved and quiet. Xu Sheng and Xiao enjoy playing with beans in a room behind a stage. Hearing the sounds of an opera, Xu Sheng takes Xiao's hand, and they go to watch the performance.
