Court Lady Episode 3 Recap, Plot

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Sheng Chumu, seeing Fu Rou emerge from her courtyard, quickly adopted a more composed demeanor. Fu Tao was by his side, praising Sheng Chumu, "Second Sister, Chumu is really a military strategy expert. Whatever I don't understand, once he explains, I immediately understand." Fu Rou thanked him as "Eldest Young Master Sheng," to which Sheng Chumu reminded her of her promise to call him by his name. When she hesitantly tried "Sheng. . . Chu. . .

Mu," he corrected her, finding the surname impolite, and asked her to just call him "Chumu." He then reached for the sachet Fu Rou had made for him, utterly amazed, declaring it "10 times more exquisite than the ones from the Weaving and Dyeing Bureau." He inquired about her fondness for red peonies, and Fu Rou explained that while beautiful, they require significant care, a devotion she was "totally willing" to give.

Before they left, Sheng Chumu, confirming with Fu Tao that Fu Rou's birthday was on August 20th, seemed to be planning something. Later, while Sheng Chumu and Fu Tao were out, a messenger from the General's manor recklessly galloped his horse through the busy street. When the messenger dared to scold people for blocking his way, Sheng Chumu declared, "No need for useless talk. Beat him up!"

After beating the messenger, Sheng Chumu boldly announced his name as "Sheng Chumu of the Duke of Lu's manor," challenging the messenger to "come to Chang'an to find me" if he had the guts. With that, he invited Fu Tao for a drink. They ended up at a brothel, which immediately terrified Fu Tao, who exclaimed, "Second Sister will surely beat me to death!"

Sheng Chumu, realizing his mistake, feigned disgust for brothels, attributing his presence there to a "habit I formed in Chang'an." As they prepared to leave, a brothel worker insinuated they were trying to skip out on their bill and questioned their "manhood," daring them to spend money "just to pretend." Incensed, Sheng Chumu pulled Fu Tao back inside, and the two ended up drinking heavily and staying the night.

The next morning, Sheng Chumu awoke to find a prostitute named Guai Guai next to him. She assured him she was "a good girl" and claimed she had "served Young Master well" all night by cleaning up his vomit, even though they had agreed to "only drink and not order a prostitute." Meanwhile, a furious Fu Rou, armed with a feather duster, chased Fu Tao for spending the night out.

Fu Tao quickly blamed Sheng Chumu, who, upon seeing Fu Rou, immediately stepped forward. Sheng Chumu explained that he and Fu Tao had only "gone to drink" and "didn't do anything else," offering to take the beating himself instead of Fu Tao. Fu Rou, after a moment, relented, reminding him the duster was "for beating the clothes; it's not for beating people," softening her stance.

Later, Third Madam, tending to Fu Tao's injuries, chastised Fu Yin, urging her to "put in more effort" with Sheng Chumu, lest Fu Rou "lure him away." Fu Yin, however, refused to act on it and stormed out, accidentally colliding with Du Ning and spilling ink on his clothes. Feeling apologetic, Fu Yin quickly ordered a servant to bring water to clean him.

During their conversation, Fu Yin learned that Du Ning possessed excellent calligraphy skills and asked him for lessons and to paint a seascape for her, to which he readily agreed. While Du Ning was drawing, Fu Yin happened to see a sample of Sheng Chumu's true handwriting, which was as messy as "crawling earthworms and snakes." Sheng Chumu, finding Fu Rou embroidering, attempted to engage her by praising embroidery as "specialized knowledge."

He then brazenly requested she embroider a "pair of Mandarin ducks playing in the water" for him. Fu Rou found his suggestion "impudent," and instead offered to embroider a "seascape" if he could provide her with a design, as she needed a pattern to "embroider what you have in mind." Sheng Chumu, despite his poor drawing skills, confidently boasted he would create an "awe-inspiring, magnificent sea view." Next, he curiously asked if embroidery could be combined with military strategy.

Fu Rou explained it could, by hiding messages in different "stitches." Sheng Chumu eagerly begged her to teach him, suggesting she could use it to send him "love letters" when she missed him. Fu Rou found him "impudent" once more but agreed to teach him, on the condition that he promised not to be so frivolous again. His curiosity then led him to ask about "Zifang," a name he had overheard Fu Rou muttering to the moon.

Angry at his eavesdropping, Fu Rou turned and left without a word. Undeterred, Sheng Chumu sought out Fu Yin to inquire about "Zifang." Fu Yin was hesitant to speak, but Third Madam interjected, revealing that "Yan Zifang was Fu Rou's baby fiancé" and that he had tragically "fell into the river and died" after his family angered Lu Yunj. Sheng Chumu secretly felt relieved, thinking, "It's good that he died. Why should I worry since he's already dead?"

He then pressed Fu Yin to tell him what Fu Rou liked most in terms of embroidery, learning that she "likes Madam Hui's embroidery work the most." Shortly after, the Fu family's Second Old Madam arrived from Chang'an for a visit.

While chatting with the family, she spoke of a popular saying in Chang'an, "Chang'an has a pair and a half playboys, Chu Mu Ling Jun, hold Jinfan," explaining that it referred to the city's three most notorious playboys: "Duke of Lu's eldest son, Sheng Chumu," and his two younger brothers, Sheng Chuling and Sheng Chujun. She added that "Jinfan is a shameless prostitute" for whom the Sheng brothers would "fight to use her embroidered slipper to hold wine to drink."

Everyone present was taken aback, especially Fu Rou, who, despite her growing doubts, tried to convince herself that "what you hear is not real. Only what you see is real," holding onto the belief in Sheng Chumu she had formed during their time together. Meanwhile, Lu Qi reported to his father, Lu Yunj, that Sheng Chumu had beaten their messenger. Lu Yunj, now the Duke of Cai, saw this as an opportunity.

Believing "the more useless Sheng Chumu is, the less future for the Duke of Lu Manor," he instructed his family to not only avoid troubling Sheng Chumu but to "even help him" if he wanted to "make a mess." Back in the Fu household, Fu Rou, after hearing the gossip, looked at the "Constantly Striving to Self-Improve" calligraphy Sheng Chumu had once written, hoping it contradicted the rumors.

Fu Yin, however, had told her about Du Ning drawing the seascape and revealed that Sheng Chumu's calligraphy, apart from "Constantly Striving to Self-Improve," was truly terrible. Fu Rou realized that Du Ning's painting was the one Sheng Chumu had promised her. She decided to test him. When Sheng Chumu presented Du Ning's seascape painting to Fu Rou as his own, she noted that it matched Fu Yin's description perfectly.

Feigning uncertainty, she asked him to write a colophon on it, specifically requesting "Fisherman's Song at Eventide" and forbidding him from writing "Constantly Striving to Self-Improve." Sheng Chumu stubbornly insisted on writing "Constantly Striving to Self-Improve." Growing increasingly frustrated, Fu Rou then probed him about his two younger brothers. Sheng Chumu carelessly let slip that they were "really close and often go together to bro— browse bookstores."

This admission, combined with the stolen painting and his insistence on the same four characters, shattered Fu Rou's trust. Deeply disappointed, she tore up his "Constantly Striving to Self-Improve" calligraphy and walked away. Heartbroken, Sheng Chumu went drinking with Du Ning. He lamented, "What have I done wrong? . . . I studied military strategies, practiced riding, and archery. Was that easy? In the end, she turned away and never looked at me again."

Though he defiantly claimed he didn't need Fu Rou, "There are plenty of beautiful women in the world," he quickly grew angry when Du Ning called Fu Rou "difficult," defending her fiercely. Drunkenly, Sheng Chumu smashed bottles, which attracted Lu Hanxing, Lu Yunj's nephew. Lu Hanxing, following his uncle's orders, approached Sheng Chumu, offering his assistance. Sheng Chumu then brazenly demanded a piece of Madam Hui's embroidery.

Lu Hanxing, without hesitation, ordered Xu Youtong, the magistrate of Guangji County and Fu Rou's brother-in-law, to procure one within ten days, threatening him with execution if he failed. Fu Jun, distressed by the threat to her husband, pleaded with Fu Rou for help. Fu Rou, recognizing Lu Yunj's bullying tactics and still angry at Sheng Chumu for his lies, initially refused to involve him, declaring, "He treated me as an idiot. Should I go beg him now?"

She then decided that to save Xu Youtong's life without giving in to the Lu family, she would secretly create a "fake one" of Madam Hui's exquisite embroidery. Fu Rou spent a day and a night tirelessly embroidering the replica. All the while, Sheng Chumu waited faithfully outside her courtyard, vowing, "I don't believe that you won't come out. I'll just wait here."

After submitting the fake embroidery through her sister, Fu Rou, hearing from her maid that Sheng Chumu was still waiting outside, looking pale and gaunt, felt a pang of sympathy. She found him at her gate. Sheng Chumu begged for her forgiveness, asking for "one last chance" and promising "I won't lie again. I will never lie again. I promise." Seeing his apparent sincerity, Fu Rou, while warning him not to be frivolous, seemed to relent.

Overjoyed, Sheng Chumu excitedly presented her with a birthday gift, promising a "very, very big and happy surprise." Fu Rou opened the box to find the very same "fake" embroidery she had just painstakingly completed. The shock and realization of his continued deception overwhelmed her. She slapped him hard, denouncing him as "despicable and shameless" and "indeed a playboy who bullies without remorse." Stunned and enraged, Sheng Chumu retorted, "Even a royal princess wouldn't dare treat me this way. .

. I can change one, or two, or even three every day. I don't need you." He then furiously ordered Junhui to pack their belongings immediately to return to Chang'an, leaving Fu Rou distraught and repeatedly questioning, "Why do you always lie to me?"

Episode 2 Recap

Episode 4 Recap