Choice Husband Episode 7 Recap
> Choice Husband Recap
Song Xiyuan, determined to defy Pei Yanzhen's attempts to stop their wedding, pulled Shen Miao into a room to perform the ceremonial bows. He declared that since Pei Yanzhen had resorted to such unscrupulous means, he would see the marriage through just to spite him. Shen Miao hesitated, but when Song Xiyuan questioned if she still harbored feelings for Pei Yanzhen, she denied it.
They completed the first two bows: one to heaven and earth, and another to parents and elders. As they prepared for the most crucial one, bowing to each other, Pei Yanzhen's voice resonated from outside the door. He called out to Miao, asking if she was inside and if she was alright.
He then described the golden osmanthus flowers blooming at Pei's Residence, the beautiful autumn moon, and the grand stage, suggesting a performance of the "Tale of Ancient Sword" would be wonderful. He concluded with a poignant quote about true love not being deterred by the test of time, and then directly asked Shen Miao if she still wished for a divorce.
Moments later, Song Xiyuan confidently opened the door, declaring to Pei Yanzhen that he and his wife had completed their wedding bows and he was now ready to go with him. Shen Miao stood silently with her back to them, her expression hidden from Pei Yanzhen. Meanwhile, the Emperor spoke with his eunuch, Jingde, inquiring about the Ninth Princess in Lingzhou before turning to the Shen family. Jingde reported that Shen Miao had remarried, taking Song Xiyuan as her husband.
The Emperor remarked on Shen Miao's poor character, expressing relief that he hadn't followed the Empress Dowager's earlier suggestion to bring her into the palace. He then pondered whether to kill or spare Pei Yanzhen, acknowledging Pei Yanzhen's talent and his own reluctance to eliminate him, contrasting this with the Empress Dowager's stance that she would rather kill than risk letting him go.
Jingde, wary of offending the Empress Dowager, avoided giving a direct opinion, a hesitation the Emperor keenly observed. Pei Yanzhen, angered by Song Xiyuan's defiance, publicly ordered Song Xiyuan's elaborate wedding robes to be stripped from him. Despite Song Xiyuan's protests, Pei Yanzhen had his way, and Song Xiyuan was then taken to the county government office. There, feigning frail health, Song Xiyuan sat down, subtly implying that Pei Yanzhen was intentionally interrupting his wedding night.
Pei Yanzhen retorted that no convictions had been made, but then presented four boxes filled with Song family accounts and ledgers from the period of the crime. He instructed Song Xiyuan to remain at the county government for several days to meticulously review them, to prevent any information leakage. Meanwhile, Shen Miao traveled in a sedan to the Song Residence.
On her way, she asked Lvying to slow down when passing Pei's Residence, wanting another look, mentioning the fragrant osmanthus flowers. To her shock, she witnessed a fire raging at Pei's Residence, with servants frantically trying to extinguish it. A servant explained that the fire was suspicious, as the residence's water tanks had been broken, and Guard Zhan was unexpectedly absent.
Concerned about important ancient scriptures and paintings, Shen Miao immediately ordered Lvying to summon help from Shen's Residence and to use Pei Yanzhen's authority to borrow water from neighbors if needed. Ninth Princess, already present and scolding the Pei family servants, recognized Shen Miao. Upon hearing her surname, Ninth Princess confronted Shen Miao, accusing her of being the "bold commoner" who had once opposed her at a "temple of love and fate."
Lvying quickly intervened, denying the existence of such a temple in Lingzhou and asserting that Miss Shen rarely left her residence, implying a case of mistaken identity. However, Ninth Princess persisted, disparaging Shen Miao as a divorced woman on her second wedding day, who had no right to interfere with the Pei family's affairs and had already sullied Pei Yanzhen's reputation enough. Shen Miao, heeding the princess's reminder, decided to leave, acknowledging that her involvement was no longer appropriate.
Back at the county government, news of the fire at Pei's Residence reached Pei Yanzhen. Recognizing the urgency, he released Song Xiyuan. Song Xiyuan, gloating, triumphantly announced he was leaving to celebrate his wedding night with his bride. When one of Pei Yanzhen's subordinates questioned letting him go, Pei Yanzhen calmly replied, "There will be other opportunities."
Upon arriving at the Song Residence, Shen Miao was introduced to Song Xiyuan's two concubines, Madam Chun and Madam Xia, along with their sons, Fourth and Fifth Young Masters, and several other women, whom she quickly realized were Song Xiyuan's lovers. Lvying explained the unusual family history: Song Xiyuan was named "Third Master Song" due to a fortune teller's prophecy that his mother's first son wouldn't survive, leading them to pretend two sons had already died to protect him.
After his mother's death, Madam Chun and Madam Xia had managed the household, revealing a complex family dynamic that Shen Miao knew would be challenging. The concubines attempted to assert their authority and intimidate the new bride, criticizing her manners and bringing in Song Xiyuan's lovers to form a united front. Shen Miao, however, was unfazed. She saw through their tactics, predicting their "good cop, bad cop" routine and their plans to use her "second marriage" status against her.
She boldly criticized their theatrical performance, comparing it unfavorably to her own family's housekeepers. Produced with Song family ledgers she had brought, Shen Miao then asserted her right to manage the inner court. She assigned Madam Chun and Madam Xia joint responsibility for household tasks like purchasing, cleaning, gardening, and hosting, requiring them to mutually supervise and hold each other accountable, promising them allowances befitting a formal consort.
She put the Fourth Young Master, who had a knack for numbers, in charge of auditing Song Xiyuan's personal accounts. The robust Fifth Young Master was tasked with expanding the family business, earning proportional profit shares. Finally, to Song Xiyuan's lovers, she assigned the "most important task" of ensuring Third Master Song's comfort and satisfaction, both physically and mentally, from "inside and out, top to bottom," thereby appearing magnanimous while effectively placing them under her control.
Madam Chun and Madam Xia, though initially frustrated, realized Shen Miao would be a difficult character to handle. Later, in her room, Shen Miao confided in Lvying about Song Xiyuan's deceit. She revealed that she had been upfront about her background before their marriage, yet he had concealed the chaotic state of his family, with unruly women and easily manipulated young masters. She credited her own cleverness and articulate nature for not falling completely into his trap.
Lvying expressed pity for Song Xiyuan's problematic family, but Shen Miao insisted she was the one more deserving of sympathy. Despite her earlier assertion that she would no longer interfere, Shen Miao discreetly asked Lvying to check on the situation at Pei's Residence, claiming it was to ensure Song Xiyuan wasn't implicated. Lvying, recognizing Shen Miao's true concern for Pei Yanzhen, subtly acknowledged her request. That evening, Song Xiyuan returned, entering Shen Miao's room with a guilty grin.
He attempted to get intimate, but Shen Miao quickly pushed him away, reminding him of their pre-nuptial agreement not to consummate their marriage. She called him shameless for tricking her into managing his household and for going back on his word. Song Xiyuan defended himself, admitting his deception but claiming it was out of fear that she wouldn't marry him if she knew the truth about his concubines who constantly plotted against him.
He then shamelessly declared that since Shen Miao also had her share of "love problems," they were "birds of a feather" and were doing Lingzhou a "big favor" by marrying each other. Shen Miao called him shameless. Their bickering continued as he tried to stay in her room, arguing it was necessary for her to uphold her authority in the household. Shen Miao, however, refused to relent and made him sleep on the floor.
Pei Yanzhen, seeking information, received an update from Zhan Yue. Zhan Yue reported that Third Master Song was indeed a formidable individual who had rapidly expanded the Song family's business by taking over the tea and salt trades in just a few years. Pei Yanzhen surmised that Song Xiyuan's interest in Shen Miao was likely driven by a desire to acquire the Lu family's wealth. Zhan Yue lightheartedly suggested Pei Yanzhen should worry about his own troubles.
Earlier, Pei Yanzhen had learned of the fire at his residence. His housekeeper started to credit Shen Miao for her help, but Ninth Princess appeared and quickly claimed the credit for herself. Ninth Princess then invited Pei Yanzhen to a garden outing the next day, which he accepted. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager was incensed by the Shen family's repeated defiance of imperial decree regarding Shen Miao's marital affairs.
She deemed the family ungrateful and a mere merchant daring to defy heaven's will. She decided it was time to cause chaos in Lingzhou City and commanded the Emperor to bring the Ninth Princess back, promising to reveal further plans later. The Emperor, however, discussed with Jingde his suspicion that the Empress Dowager still intended to move against Pei Yanzhen.
He concluded that, if his suspicions were true, it was all the more reason not to allow the Ninth Princess to return to the capital. The next morning, Song Xiyuan's numerous lovers gathered outside his and Shen Miao's room, but Shen Miao expertly dismissed them by assigning them the task of preparing a special charcoal burner to keep Song Xiyuan's night tea warm, thus appearing caring while getting rid of them.
Later, at the bamboo pavilion, Shen Miao and Lvying arrived, with Shen Miao expressing her joy at finally being out since her marriage and appreciating Song Xiyuan's understanding. Coincidentally, Song Xiyuan and Pei Yanzhen also arrived. A competitive banter quickly ensued, with Song Xiyuan mocking Pei Yanzhen's busy schedule and his inability to arrest people at weddings. Pei Yanzhen countered with a remark about the scarce number of arsonists and thieves in Lingzhou City.
Song Xiyuan then challenged Pei Yanzhen to a horse race to the pavilion, taunting him about his "scholar" status. Pei Yanzhen, despite initially feigning a lack of competitive spirit, accepted. During the race, Pei Yanzhen subtly orchestrated a trap by having a rope placed across the path ahead. He then deliberately fell behind, making Song Xiyuan charge forward.
Song Xiyuan, overconfident, ended up tripping over the rope and falling in the mud, realizing Pei Yanzhen had plotted against him and possessed martial arts skills. Despite the mishap, with their subordinates intervening, Song Xiyuan declared that he and Pei Yanzhen were now "matched opponents" and "old friends at first sight," and would "share woes together." After the race, both Song Xiyuan and Pei Yanzhen changed into identical white robes.
Song Xiyuan, vainly boasting about his handsome appearance, was dismayed when he saw Pei Yanzhen in the same attire. His servant's comment that the "ugly one" is more embarrassed when outfits clash fueled Song Xiyuan's insecurity, leading him to demand clothes "a hundred times more luxurious." Meanwhile, Shen Miao and Lvying, enjoying the outdoors, overheard two women gossiping about the Empress Dowager's intention to marry Ninth Princess to Pei Yanzhen, suggesting Pei Yanzhen divorced Shen Miao to advance his power.
Shen Miao calmly dismissed their words, stating Pei Yanzhen's affairs no longer concerned her. Ninth Princess, overhearing the comparison, was furious, scolding the women for gossiping about royalty and her relationship with Pei Yanzhen. To avoid further confrontation, Shen Miao and Lvying discreetly slipped away through a back door, as Shen Miao had coincidentally chosen an outfit that might clash with the princess's. Lvying then went to fetch Shen Miao a change of clothes.
Unbeknownst to them, the two guards Ninth Princess had tasked with ambushing Pei Yanzhen now spotted a tall figure in new white attire from afar, identifying him as their target. However, they soon encountered the Ninth Princess herself.
Seeing her, and recalling her earlier instructions to act as if they were strangers during the ambush to make it appear genuine, they misinterpreted her presence and confusion as a cue to begin the "performance" of the ambush, believing she was signaling the start of the pre-planned confrontation. Ninth Princess, initially confused, soon realized their hostile intent and fought back. After disarming herself, claiming it was unfair to use a weapon, she attempted to fight them barehanded but ended up hurting her foot.
