Choice Husband Episode 29 Recap
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Shen Miao was approaching Pei Yanzhen under the pretense of caring for Xiao, a truth Pei Yanzhen was aware of but chose not to expose, wishing only to spend time with her. One evening, Pei Yanzhen asked Shen Miao about her decision regarding their relationship for Xiao's well-being. He suggested they spend more time together to cultivate their bond.
Shen Miao questioned if his motives were solely for Xiao, to which Pei Yanzhen offered to drop the idea if she was unwilling. Shen Miao, however, asked him to wait. She later confessed that she had never truly hated him, so there was nothing for her to forgive. Given their new arrangement, Shen Miao proposed they should live together. Meanwhile, Song Xiyuan was at a jewelry store selecting headdresses for Shen Miao. He found the common selection unsuitable for her.
While waiting for more exquisite pieces, he overheard Constable Zhao retrieving headdresses ordered by "His Highness" for "His wife." The shopkeeper spoke of "His Highness'" generosity towards his wife, expressing hope for their reconciliation. Song Xiyuan’s attendant immediately speculated that "His Highness" referred to Pei Yanzhen, and "His wife" to Shen Miao, a realization Song Xiyuan seemed to understand. Later that night, Pei Yanzhen, joyful from Shen Miao’s return, fell asleep early.
Shen Miao, taking advantage of his deep slumber, slipped out to meet Song Xiyuan, who had infiltrated the residence. Song Xiyuan eagerly asked if she had found any clues about Shen Zai. Upon learning she hadn't, he urged her to leave with him, expressing concern over her sleeping in the same room as Pei Yanzhen, a remark Shen Miao deemed inappropriate. Song Xiyuan explained his presence was to help her, asserting that Shen Zai was not within the residence.
He then unveiled his plan: the only way to find Shen Zai was to bring down Pei Yanzhen. His strategy involved luring Zhan Yue away, then arranging for Pei Yanzhen to meet them at Yongquan Temple outside the city. Assassins would ambush Pei Yanzhen, and they would use his life as leverage to force Zhan Yue to reveal Shen Zai's whereabouts. Shen Miao immediately opposed the plan, fearing harm to Pei Yanzhen.
Song Xiyuan pressed her, asking if she felt pity for him, and reminded her of Pei Yanzhen's past deceits. He warned of the Shen family's potential ruin if she didn't comply, insisting she meet him at Yongquan Temple at noon the following day. As Shen Miao returned to her room, a guard spotted her, respectfully addressing her as "Your Highness" and advising her to go back indoors due to the late hour.
Back in the room, Pei Yanzhen was in the throes of a nightmare, believing he had lost Shen Miao forever. He clutched her fiercely, crying out for her not to leave. Shen Miao tried to calm him, assuring him it was merely a dream. Pei Yanzhen apologized, explaining he feared her return was just another illusion. She explained she had only gone out for a walk as she couldn't sleep.
He then pleaded with her never to abandon him again, stating he could not bear to lose her a second time after just getting her back. The next morning, Shen Miao awoke from another unsettling nightmare. Pei Yanzhen had lavish headdresses and accessories delivered to her room as a surprise, but she asked the servants to take them away. At breakfast, Pei Yanzhen offered her fish congee he had prepared himself.
After sending the servants away, he apologized for his behavior the previous night, promising it wouldn't happen again. Shen Miao dismissed his apology. She then suggested they go to Yongquan Temple today, as it was an auspicious day, to fulfill a vow he had made in Weiyang: to reconcile and for their family to be reunited. She emphasized that a sincere vow required no weapons or guards, proposing they go alone, just the two of them.
Pei Yanzhen, who had secretly overheard her conversation with Song Xiyuan the night before, agreed to all her requests. She cautiously asked if he wasn't worried about unforeseen dangers. He replied that every matter had both good and bad aspects, but as long as he could be with her, even potential misfortunes would not necessarily be bad.
He humbly stated that he possessed nothing but an entire country, which he would willingly offer as a dowry if he could win her love. Overwhelmed by a mix of guilt and reluctance, Shen Miao began to confess, but then stopped herself, simply urging him to drink his congee while she arranged for the carriage. On the way to the temple, a heavy rain began to fall. Zhan Yue encountered Shen Miao and congratulated her on reconciling with Pei Yanzhen.
He acknowledged the past misunderstandings but insisted that Pei Yanzhen's love for her was absolute and unmatched, urging her to trust him. At Yongquan Temple, Song Xiyuan's subordinate confirmed it was noon, and Song Xiyuan commanded his men to remain hidden. Pei Yanzhen tenderly cautioned Shen Miao to watch her step on the mossy path. Noticing her distraction, he asked what troubled her thoughts.
Shen Miao mused about how their lives might have differed if she hadn't been summoned to the palace or if he hadn't become an official in Lingzhou. Pei Yanzhen replied that fate had brought them together, and they would have met regardless.
Shen Miao longed for a reunion free from their past hardships, but Pei Yanzhen countered that their arduous journey, including marriage, childbirth, divorce, and brushes with death, had ultimately allowed her to truly understand his heart, making it all worthwhile. When she questioned her worthiness of his profound affection, he dismissed the notion, stating that without her, he would still be a lonely man consumed by hatred.
Because his heart found joy in her, all his imperfections had faded, becoming complete. Deeply moved, Shen Miao finally apologized to Pei Yanzhen, confessing that she had lied and brought him to the temple as part of Song Xiyuan's scheme. Song Xiyuan then emerged, greeting Pei Yanzhen. Shen Miao, distraught, reiterated her apology, assuring Pei Yanzhen that he only needed to remain there for a few hours until she rescued Shen Zai, promising to return with him.
Pei Yanzhen, however, called her "silly Miao," asking if she truly believed Song Xiyuan would let him leave alive. He then quoted the concluding lines of the Diamond Sutra, observing that "everything is like a dream, the morning dew fades easily, it's hard to capture the lightning," subtly revealing he had known about the trap all along. Shen Miao confronted Song Xiyuan, reminding him of his promise not to harm Pei Yanzhen.
Song Xiyuan noticed the silver needle hidden in Pei Yanzhen’s sleeve, acknowledging Pei Yanzhen's foresight. Pei Yanzhen confirmed he had known of the scheme since Shen Miao's return to his residence. Song Xiyuan then admitted he had initially thought Shen Miao loved Pei Yanzhen, explaining her previous resentment, and that he realized the truth too late. Pei Yanzhen simply stated that the truth no longer mattered.
Shen Miao pressed him, asking why he had walked into the trap without exposing her, if he knew everything. Pei Yanzhen answered that if he hadn't, she would never have trusted him again. Shen Miao apologized. Song Xiyuan interjected that it was too late for apologies, asserting that from the moment Pei Yanzhen targeted the Song family, a conflict between them was inevitable, and he could not let Pei Yanzhen live.
Shen Miao desperately pleaded with Song Xiyuan to uphold their agreement to spare Pei Yanzhen, but Song Xiyuan insisted some matters could not be resolved by mere words. Pei Yanzhen, remaining stoic, told Shen Miao not to worry, stating he would face whatever was to come. Pei Yanzhen, despite his knowledge of the trap, was quickly overwhelmed by Song Xiyuan's assassins.
As Song Xiyuan raised his sword for the killing blow, he attributed Pei Yanzhen's fate to opposing him, regretting they couldn't have been friends. Shen Miao intervened, brandishing a hairpin and threatening to take her own life if Song Xiyuan did not release Pei Yanzhen. She tearfully apologized to Pei Yanzhen for her actions, stating they were for the Shen family, but declared that despite their difficult marriage, all she wanted now was for him to live.
Song Xiyuan, seeing her resolve, pleaded with her to lower the weapon and promised to spare Pei Yanzhen. Shen Miao made him swear on his ancestors. Realizing the depth of her error, Shen Miao placed her hairpin in Pei Yanzhen’s hand, telling him she had no regrets marrying him, and urged him to survive. Song Xiyuan then pulled Shen Miao away, and the assassins departed.
Shortly after, Zhan Yue arrived at the temple and took the severely wounded Pei Yanzhen, who was then in critical condition, back to the Regent's residence. Later, Song Xiyuan offered Shen Miao bayberries, telling her that Shen Zai would arrive after she ate. Shen Miao demanded to know Shen Zai's whereabouts, then inquired about Pei Yanzhen. Song Xiyuan assured her that Zhan Yue had gone to the temple and Pei Yanzhen would be safe for the day.
Shen Miao questioned if Song Xiyuan’s assistance was truly for Shen Zai or for his own benefit. Song Xiyuan replied that if Pei Yanzhen ceased to be his adversary, he would not seek his death. Shen Miao reminded him to keep his word. When Song Xiyuan suggested visiting her again tomorrow, Shen Miao declined, reminding him that she had clearly stated in Lingzhou that she regarded him only as a friend.
She acknowledged that her complicity in the ambush at the temple meant she was also at fault and therefore wouldn't blame him for his deception. At that moment, Shen Zai entered, unharmed. Relieved, Shen Miao thanked Song Xiyuan for sparing Pei Yanzhen’s life but definitively declared that from that moment on, they should go their separate ways and never meet again.
Song Xiyuan asked if there was any room for their relationship to mend, a question Shen Miao's demeanor indicated he already knew the answer to. This confirmed her realization that the story of Shen Zai being captured by Pei Yanzhen was a fabrication by Song Xiyuan, designed to turn her against Pei Yanzhen.
