Choice Husband Episode 6 Recap
> Choice Husband Recap
Shen Miao secretly followed Pei Yanzhen and Ninth Princess to Shen's Accessories Store, only to find Song Xiyuan tagging along as well. Inside the store, Ninth Princess excitedly asked Pei Yanzhen to choose a rouge for her, to which he replied she looked beautiful in any. She then pressed him to buy all the rouges for her.
When she innocently inquired if he had ever accompanied his wife to a rouge store, Pei Yanzhen stated that Shen Miao never wore makeup, implying he hadn't. Ninth Princess then remarked that Shen Miao, being a merchant's daughter, was probably not a delicate woman. Overhearing this, Shen Miao was furious, especially knowing Pei Yanzhen had spent the money she gave him on another woman and made such comments about her.
She declared her intent to marry sooner, a remark Song Xiyuan optimistically misinterpreted as a sign she was considering him, prompting a sharp retort from Shen Miao warning him to stop following her. Back at Shen's Residence, a crowd of men had gathered, publicly proposing marriage to Shen Miao and even offering to live in matrilocal residence. Madam, eager to find Shen Miao a suitable husband before the imperial concubine selection in three months, was busy assessing potential suitors.
Shen Miao, however, was weary of being married off again so soon after her divorce, suspecting these men were only after her family's wealth. She argued that she preferred to wait for destiny, though Madam insisted on continuing her search. Song Xiyuan then arrived, scattering the crowd by having his servant generously distribute gold to anyone willing to leave.
Master Shen then introduced Song Xiyuan, the owner of Yuanshan Company, to Shen Miao, reminding her that Song Xiyuan had saved her from falling into the water during the Dragon Boat Festival. Seeing an opportunity, Song Xiyuan promptly proposed marriage. Shen Miao then requested a private conversation with Song Xiyuan.
She shrewdly explained that the recent surge in demand for luxury items in the capital was due to the upcoming imperial concubine selection, hinting that her father's urgency to marry her off was a protective measure to keep her out of the palace. She then directly asked Song Xiyuan if he was still willing to marry her, knowing it would mean defying the royal family.
He confirmed his willingness, but Shen Miao clarified that their union would be a "cooperation" rather than a true marriage. She dismissed his initial romantic overtures, telling him to drop the act. Recognizing the Song family's strong foundation in the royal court and their extensive business in the Central Plains, Shen Miao offered to share the Shen family's Jiangnan businesses with him as a dowry for the risks he would take. Although he initially hesitated, he eventually accepted.
She then laid out her four conditions: he must abandon his philandering ways, their relationship would be a platonic brotherhood, honesty would be paramount between them, and he must agree to a divorce whenever she requested it. Song Xiyuan readily agreed to all terms, delightedly calling her "Miaomiao" and praising her astuteness before they proceeded to write the marriage contract.
Meanwhile, Pei Yanzhen, having received the Emperor's letter from Ninth Princess revealing the Emperor's intention to make Shen Miao a noble concubine, was deeply troubled. He had earlier reiterated his feelings for Shen Miao to Ninth Princess, asserting that Shen Miao was his wife and he could always remarry her, despite their divorce. Zhan Yue warned Pei Yanzhen that repeatedly rejecting Ninth Princess would expose his true identity.
After careful consideration, Pei Yanzhen resolved to prevent Shen Miao's marriage to Song Xiyuan and his own potential marriage to Ninth Princess. Later that night, Shen Qian, feeling guilty about Shen Miao's forced marriages, confessed to her the true story of her mother's early death. He explained that her mother came from the wealthy Lu family, which was eradicated due to their entanglement in court affairs.
Her mother had known the location of a vast hidden treasure but succumbed to depression caused by the family's tragedy and persistent rumors. This painful history was why he had always strived to keep Shen Miao far from the royal court's dangerous machinations. Shen Miao reassured him that she was not her mother and that the Shen family would not meet the same fate as the Lu family.
The next morning, Madam eagerly woke Shen Miao early to visit the Great Buddha Temple. A renowned fortune-telling monk was there, and Madam hoped to secure an auspicious wedding date for Shen Miao, fearing they would miss their chance if they delayed. At the temple, while Madam went to get a queue number, Shen Miao encountered a Taoist hawking talismans and paper dolls.
He claimed his peach blossom talisman was "blessed by Shen Miao's good fortune" and attempted to sell a "limited paper doll" to Ninth Princess, boasting it could help her win the affection of a man like Official Pei or Song Xiyuan. Shen Miao, observing Ninth Princess's gullibility, tried to warn her about Official Pei's strict stance against such superstitious practices.
However, Ninth Princess dismissed her warnings and, despite the exorbitant price of two silvers for a paper doll (enough for a year's living expenses for a common family), was prepared to buy it. The Taoist, seeing Shen Miao's intervention, retorted that a good marriage was more precious than gold and rudely implied Shen Miao was a recently abandoned, unlucky woman.
Ninth Princess then shockingly asked for a cursing doll to hex a "Miss Shen," wishing her to be ugly, bald, fat, and forever single. Enraged, Shen Miao outbid Ninth Princess multiple times, ultimately buying all the Taoist's items and warning the princess not to cause trouble in Lingzhou. Around the same time, Pei Yanzhen sought guidance from his old acquaintance, Master Wangyun, at the Great Buddha Temple.
As they played chess, Master Wangyun noted Pei Yanzhen's distracted state, observing that he wasn't there for chess but rather burdened by an "obsession" that created a "heart obstacle." The Master stated that since Pei Yanzhen was "not one of the mortals," he could not offer the desired enlightenment. Zhan Yue interpreted this to mean that Pei Yanzhen should act on his strong feelings rather than maintain a facade of indifference.
Coincidentally, Song Xiyuan also arrived to seek a fortune reading for himself and his "future wife," Shen Miao. Pei Yanzhen, hiding, discreetly instructed Master Wangyun to ensure Song Xiyuan would only draw bad fortune sticks by removing all the favorable ones. As a result, Song Xiyuan drew a highly unfavorable sign, which Master Wangyun interpreted as a forced and ultimately unsuccessful marriage.
Undeterred, Song Xiyuan then requested a fortune reading for Pei Yanzhen and Shen Miao's relationship, which yielded an even worse outcome. Song Xiyuan reveled in his supposed victory, much to Pei Yanzhen's hidden annoyance, a reaction Zhan Yue observed, jokingly calling Pei Yanzhen "mean." Madam, still at the temple, soon conveyed the grim fortune to Shen Miao, saying that her compatibility with Song Xiyuan was poor, and their marriage would lead to a tragic life if they proceeded.
To Madam's surprise, Shen Miao was elated. She expressed relief, explaining that a "bad" fortune was ideal for their "cooperative" marriage, preventing Song Xiyuan from truly falling for her and repeating the mistakes of her previous marriage with Pei Yanzhen. She called it a "heaven-made match" and urged Madam to swiftly prepare for the wedding, envisioning her as the "king of the game."
On the wedding day, as preparations were underway at Shen's Residence, Shen Miao expressed her exasperation with the Song family's numerous relatives and the unexpected costs, wishing she had included a clause about wedding expenses in their contract. Meanwhile, bailiffs arrived at Song Xiyuan's family residence to arrest him on charges of bribery and embezzlement involving 80,000 taels of silver. However, a quick-thinking servant informed them that the wedding had been moved to Shen's Residence.
Pei Yanzhen, having been outmaneuvered by the change of venue, quickly arrived at Shen's Residence. As Song Xiyuan was about to start the bowing ceremony, a section of the roof suddenly collapsed. Pei Yanzhen later admitted to this "petty trick" as he lamented his actions, indicating his responsibility for the disruption.
Song Xiyuan, despite the setback, reassured Master Shen that the wedding's location didn't matter, and he had strategically chosen Shen's Residence to thwart "jackals" (a clear reference to Pei Yanzhen) who might interfere. Just as the ceremony was about to resume, Pei Yanzhen dramatically appeared. Shen Qian was taken aback, while Shen Miao, still veiled, casually referred to Pei Yanzhen as her "ex-brother-in-law."
Song Xiyuan, putting on a show of politeness and claiming a maternal uncle-niece relationship between Pei Yanzhen and Shen Miao, welcomed Pei Yanzhen with the sarcastic title "little uncle" and offered him tea. Pei Yanzhen accepted, presenting a red packet (gift money), but then subtly insulted Song Xiyuan's red wedding attire, comparing him to a "mountain pheasant." Shen Miao, from under her veil, quipped that "someone was jealous."
Pei Yanzhen then publicly questioned Song Xiyuan's fidelity, asking if he would abandon his womanizing ways after marriage and if he harbored any secret motives against the Shen family. Before Song Xiyuan could fully respond, Pei Yanzhen's men burst in to arrest him for an ongoing "criminal case." Song Xiyuan, realizing he had underestimated Pei Yanzhen's tactics, conceded that Pei Yanzhen had "barely won."
As Pei Yanzhen's men moved to apprehend him, Song Xiyuan quickly ordered Tie Niu to block them, then jumped out of a window, pulling Shen Miao along with him as he made his escape.
