Resumen del episodio 2 de A Splendid Match
> Resúmenes de A Splendid Match
Gu Jinzhao’s coming-of-age ceremony was a grand affair, overseen by Madam Chen, the mother of Chen Yanyun and a prestigious figure from the capital. Adorned in a gown crafted by imperial tailors and embroidered by Jiangnan's finest artisans, Jinzhao underwent the traditional three stages of hair-pinning. Madam Chen offered blessings for her to cast aside childhood, cultivate virtue, and enjoy long-lasting prosperity. The ceremony took a tense turn when Jinzhao was required to kowtow to her parents.
Gu Dezhao presented his gift, but Lady Song, his concubine, interrupted to present a gift on behalf of Jinzhao’s biological mother, claiming she was too ill to attend. This was a calculated attempt to force Jinzhao to kowtow to a concubine in front of the guests. Jinzhao remained calm, mockingly praising her father and the concubine for their "harmonious" relationship, suggesting that their three-way bliss was a story worth spreading far and wide.
This sharp wit drew a laugh from Ye Xian, the heir of Marquis Changxing. Not recognizing him, Gu Dezhao scolded the young man for his arrogance and demanded he kneel. Chen Yanyun quickly intervened to reveal Ye Xian’s true identity, explaining that the young lord had simply wished to avoid formalities. A horrified Gu Dezhao immediately apologized and dismissed Lady Song.
Jinzhao, however, took the opportunity to warn her father that such conduct could lead to his impeachment by any other superior. After the ceremony, Madam Ji introduced Jinzhao to Ye Xian. Ye Xian pointed out that since Jinzhao’s cousin, Xian-ge'er, was his nephew, Jinzhao should address him as "Uncle." Jinzhao played along and cheekily asked for a gift. Ye Xian handed her his personal dagger, casually mentioning it was poisoned.
Rather than being intimidated, Jinzhao welcomed the blade, noting that certain people would now have to be much more careful around her. The safety of the household became a major concern following four assassination attempts, including a poisoned well. Madam Ji and Chen Yanyun discussed the necessity of sending Jinzhao to the Gu residence in the capital. Chen Yanyun emphasized that Tongzhou was only the first step in the nationwide land equalization policy, and they could not afford to fail.
Meanwhile, at court, Prince Ruichang led a group of military nobles to petition against the tax reform. Among them was Chen Yanyun’s old friend, Nie Fengming, who accused Chen Yanyun and Fu Hailian of deceiving the Emperor. The Emperor, enraged by the nobles' greed and their claim of "ruling the realm together" with the imperial family, ordered Nie dragged out and declared that land equalization would be implemented nationwide within a year.
Jinzhao was reluctant to return to the capital, remembering how her father had heartlessly barred her from the house when she was only six. She suspected Chen Yanyun was pulling the strings behind her forced relocation. Before she left, Madam Ji assured her of her support and assigned Luo Yongping to accompany her. On the road, Jinzhao’s carriage fell behind, and she noticed her horse becoming strangely restless. Their journey was interrupted when they crossed paths with Ye Xian again.
Without warning, Ye Xian fired an arrow near the horse, causing it to bolt in terror. Jinzhao was forced to use her new dagger to kill the animal to prevent the carriage from crashing. When their steward, Ping, investigated, they discovered steel needles hidden in the horse's belly. The needles would have eventually driven the horse mad, causing it to plunge off a nearby cliff within half an hour.
Ye Xian’s arrow had actually saved their lives by forcing the horse to react sooner. Ping realized that assassins were targeting Jinzhao to pressure Madam Ji into stopping the land reform. Despite the danger, Ye Xian warned Jinzhao that returning now would only make her a more vulnerable target for her grandmother’s enemies. Upon reaching the capital, Gu Dezhao prepared to give his daughter an intimidating welcome to ensure she followed his rules.
However, he was humiliated when he opened the main gates to receive what he thought was the heir of Marquis Changxing, only to kneel before the carriage just as Jinzhao stepped out. Ye Xian mocked the sight of a father kneeling to his daughter. When Gu Dezhao tried to blame Jinzhao’s lack of upbringing for her behavior, Ye Xian pointedly mentioned the rumors that Gu Dezhao had abandoned his child. Inside the residence, the tension persisted.
Jinzhao’s mother was heartbroken when her daughter formally addressed her as "Madam" rather than "Mother." At dinner, Gu Dezhao ordered Jinzhao to accompany him to a birthday banquet for the wife of his mentor, Lin Xianzhong, purely to dispel rumors of his neglect. The evening soured further when Nanny Zhou, Lady Song’s attendant, intentionally stirred trouble by reporting that Lady Song had burned her hand while preparing medicine.
She then brought up Jinzhao’s arrival in a carriage with a man, causing Gu Dezhao to erupt in fury at his wife over their daughter’s supposed disgrace. Jinzhao, having overheard Lady Song and Nanny Zhou plotting to intimidate her, burst into the room to confront them, demanding to know who exactly was the true lady of the house.
