Choice Husband Episode 9 Recap
> Choice Husband Recap
With the paternity of Shen Miao’s child still unresolved, it was deemed unsuitable for her to remain at Song’s Residence, and even less so at Pei’s, so Shen Miao returned to Shen’s Residence. Pei Yanzhen pursued her, attempting to persuade her that the child signified their lingering connection and an opportunity to start anew. However, Shen Miao firmly rejected his advances, stating that even if the child were his, it would be none of his concern.
She declared that neither she nor the Shen family required his sense of responsibility. As Pei Yanzhen left, his wound, sustained during an earlier assassination attempt, reopened. His attendant, Zhan Yue, urged him to rest, but Pei Yanzhen insisted on concealing his injury from Song Xiyuan. Meanwhile, Song Xiyuan, also contemplating the situation, resolved that getting rid of Pei Yanzhen was the only way to resolve his problems.
Back at Shen’s Residence, Shen Miao’s father, Shen Qian, and her Madam discussed the child. The Madam advised Shen Miao to stay indoors and recuperate, assuring her that the paternity could be determined after the birth. Shen Miao found this restriction unbearable and even offered to manage her father’s silk store, but her Madam dismissed the idea, emphasizing her delicate condition. Shen Qian sided with the Madam, instructing Shen Miao to heed her guidance on household matters.
In the imperial palace, the Emperor confronted the Empress Dowager about the royal guards' attempt to assassinate Pei Yanzhen at the Royal Post, fearing for his reputation. The Empress Dowager defended her actions, questioning Pei Yanzhen’s true intentions, especially since his martial arts experts had killed all her guards.
The Emperor, however, criticized his maternal uncle for demanding excessive funds due to recent floods and suggested the Empress Dowager rein in the Qin family instead of focusing on Pei Yanzhen's background. He quickly apologized for his candid remarks. The Empress Dowager acknowledged her son's discontent but reminded him of her role in his ascension to the throne. She then revealed her awareness of the empty treasury, explaining that this was why she had summoned him.
Song Xiyuan was then brought before them. He bowed respectfully, and the Empress Dowager commended his loyalty, revealing he had donated a year's profit from Song's Trading Company. She then subtly offered Imperial Physician Xiao, a renowned gynecologist, to accompany Song Xiyuan back to Lingzhou to examine Shen Miao, suggesting it would uncover the truth. She assured Song Xiyuan of her continued support. At Pei’s Residence, Ninth Princess burst in, having dismissed Zhan Yue.
She mistakenly believed Pei Yanzhen’s injuries were a result of the Emperor's displeasure over his presumed proposal to her. Pei Yanzhen, surprised to find her there, clarified that he had gone to the capital to withdraw the marriage edict and harbored no romantic feelings for her, his heart belonging solely to Shen Miao. Enraged, Ninth Princess accused Shen Miao of being a vixen and a troublemaker.
Pei Yanzhen warned her against further harassment of Shen Miao, recalling a previous incident in the bamboo forest. Later, while Shen Miao was secretly climbing over a wall to go shopping, she encountered Ninth Princess. Despite their previous animosity, Ninth Princess, still fuming about Pei Yanzhen, decided to accompany Shen Miao, suspicious that she might try to seduce him in her absence. Shen Miao took Ninth Princess to various family businesses, including Shen's Rice Shop.
They enjoyed themselves, bonding over fabric shopping, and Ninth Princess even promised to host a banquet for Shen Miao in the spring. They returned to Shen’s Residence arm-in-arm. Upon their return, they found Imperial Physician Xiao waiting in the Foyer. He reprimanded Shen Miao for disregarding the imperial summons. Song Xiyuan urged him to proceed swiftly, as the Emperor and Empress Dowager awaited his report.
Ninth Princess, also present, tried to assert her presence, claiming Shen Miao as her "drinking buddy" to Pei Yanzhen, who had also arrived and told her to leave. After a prolonged examination, Imperial Physician Xiao announced that Shen Miao was three months pregnant, a new and conflicting diagnosis. News of this uncertainty quickly spread throughout Lingzhou City, fueling rumors and ridicule about Shen Miao's inability to determine her child's father.
Back at Song’s Residence, Song Xiyuan was confronted by his two concubines and their sons, who demanded he divorce Shen Miao to salvage the family's reputation, referring to her unborn child as an "illegitimate child." Song Xiyuan staunchly defended Shen Miao as his legal wife and retorted that the term "illegitimate child" was more fitting for his fourth brother. He accused his concubines of coveting his position as house master and challenged them to take it if they were capable.
His concubines invoked his deceased father's wish to protect them and criticized Song Xiyuan for bringing shame upon the family. Unfazed, Song Xiyuan dismissed their pleas, suggesting his father could confront him from the afterlife, and then departed. Upon receiving Imperial Physician Xiao’s report, both the Emperor and Empress Dowager were taken aback by the three-month diagnosis.
The Emperor revealed he had instructed the physician to report four months, while the Empress Dowager admitted she had ordered him to attribute the child to the Song family. They soon discovered that Imperial Physician Xiao had vanished, presumed to have fled in fear of their wrath. The Empress Dowager, exasperated, blamed Shen Miao for all the turmoil and suggested eliminating her, believing that only then could Pei Yanzhen and Song Xiyuan be controlled.
The Emperor rejected this, citing his promise to Pei Yanzhen and the Empress Dowager’s own interest in leveraging Song Xiyuan. The Empress Dowager reluctantly conceded, noting the value of the Shen family’s wealth. As part of a new scheme, imperial eunuchs arrived at Shen’s Residence, announcing that the Empress Dowager had suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea after consuming rice supplied by the Shen family. Consequently, the Emperor ordered the seizure of Shen's Rice Shop.
Shen Qian was distraught, protesting his family’s honest business practices. The eunuch subtly hinted that resolving the Empress Dowager's "heart illness" was key to her recovery and advised Shen Qian to keep the matter from Shen Miao. Meanwhile, Pei Yanzhen, informed of the seizure, dispatched Zhan Yue and Constable Zhao to safeguard the Shen family’s businesses. Zhan Yue cautioned Pei Yanzhen against rash actions, aware that the Empress Dowager now suspected his martial prowess.
Overwhelmed by the escalating rumors and her family's troubles, Shen Miao informed Song Xiyuan of her desire for a divorce, believing the marriage was unfair to him and detrimental to the Song family's reputation. Song Xiyuan dismissed her concerns as pregnancy-induced overthinking and reneged on his earlier promise to grant her a divorce. He asserted that with her carrying "his daughter," their initial agreement was null and void, and he would not release her.
He insisted his actions were out of love, not deceit. Shen Miao noticed her father moving a significant amount of valuable jewelry, claiming it was for business, and announcing an upcoming long trip while urging her to stay home. Suspecting a deeper problem given the jewelry’s immense value, Shen Miao resolved to finalize her divorce to prevent further burdening her family. Dressed as a "warrior," she secretly entered Song’s Residence with Lvying, aiming to steal Song Xiyuan’s private seal.
Lvying questioned the covert entry, but Shen Miao insisted on the "warrior" approach. Concurrently, Pei Yanzhen visited Song Xiyuan that night. He questioned Song Xiyuan about the Empress Dowager's actions against Shen Miao. Song Xiyuan hinted at an agreement with the Empress Dowager: if Pei Yanzhen distanced himself from Shen Miao, the Shen family would be spared. He urged Pei Yanzhen to prioritize Shen Miao’s safety.
Pei Yanzhen, skeptical of the Empress Dowager’s word, proposed an alliance: in exchange for Song Xiyuan becoming his "ears" to gather intelligence on the Empress Dowager, Pei Yanzhen would help him secure the position of Court Purveyor. Song Xiyuan, seeing a profitable opportunity, agreed to cooperate, though he questioned Pei Yanzhen's trust. Pei Yanzhen countered that he trusted Song Xiyuan's "merchant nature" to prioritize personal gain.
While trying to locate Song Xiyuan's seal in his study, Shen Miao failed to find it and decided to forge the divorce papers by imitating his handwriting. In a twist of fate, she overheard a clandestine conversation between Song Xiyuan’s "Fifth Brother" and his mother, a concubine, plotting to assassinate Pei Yanzhen on his return journey from Song’s Residence, with the intention of framing Song Xiyuan.
Despite Fifth Brother’s apprehension, his mother assured him that Pei Yanzhen would naturally suspect Song Xiyuan due to their ongoing rivalry over Shen Miao. Shen Miao found herself in a perilous dilemma, torn between completing the divorce papers and rushing to warn Pei Yanzhen, knowing that if she left, she might never have another opportunity to forge the documents.
After their meeting, Pei Yanzhen and Song Xiyuan exchanged courteous farewells, with Song Xiyuan affirming his commitment to their new alliance and Pei Yanzhen reminding him to relay any intelligence on the Empress Dowager. As Pei Yanzhen departed Song's Residence on horseback, he was ambushed by assassins. He demanded to know their identities and why they dared to attack an imperial official.
Meanwhile, Song Xiyuan, informed by his servant Tie Niu that someone had entered his study, nonchalantly dismissed it, attributing it to his "stupid Fifth Brother and his mother" who, he believed, would soon cease to be a bother.
When Tie Niu questioned his confidence in Pei Yanzhen's ability to help him achieve the position of Court Purveyor, Song Xiyuan smugly retorted that he was not a fool and was merely "playing" Pei Yanzhen, claiming it was "deceiving Pei" not "deceiving people."
