Fall in Love with a Fox Episode 9 Recap
> Fall in Love with a Fox Recap
Concerned about keeping up her pretense of being a refined lady for Brother Shu, Jin Muqiu discussed her predicament with Baiwan. Baiwan pointed out that while she could perhaps fake skills like zither and chess, she was more worried about Brother Shu discovering she was the author of the novels he disliked. Jin Muqiu dismissed this, focusing on her immediate problem: being asked by Mrs. Yu to play the zither at the upcoming womenfolk gathering when she didn't know how.
Baiwan suggested they ask Qu Zheng for help, despite Jin Muqiu's reluctance. Baiwan insisted, believing there was a misunderstanding between them and this was an opportunity to clear things up. They went to Qu Zheng, who seemed to be expecting them. He expressed honor at Jin Muqiu seeking zither lessons from him. Jin Muqiu praised his skill, noting the moving quality of his playing. Qu Zheng attributed it to a wounded heart.
When Jin Muqiu asked him to teach her, he agreed. He inquired if she was familiar with the score; she had memorized it but felt something was wrong. Qu Zheng suggested she lacked the "sense of heart-broken" in the tune and playfully asked Baiwan to smile at him. When she refused, he declared that "that" was the sense of heart-broken, implying she had caused his pain. Baiwan was indignant, asking why he taught sorrow instead of something "good."
When he pressed what she meant by "good," she mentioned a tune about not thinking of someone anymore, which Qu Zheng interpreted as her urging him to give up on her. Frustrated, Baiwan stated she didn't want to come and decided to leave. Jin Muqiu encouraged Qu Zheng not to be too sad, confiding in him that she believed Baiwan liked him but hadn't realized it yet. Qu Zheng smiled, resolving to help Baiwan realize her feelings soon.
At the womenfolk gathering, many prominent ladies and heroines had gathered. Mrs. Yu expressed impatience at Jin Muqiu's delay and sent someone to summon her. Su Zhuozhuo arrived and took her seat, glancing at a cup of wine she had prepared for Baiwan, anticipating trouble. Jin Muqiu remained very nervous, trembling as she entered the hall. Baiwan offered constant encouragement.
Jin Muqiu began a prepared speech, hoping to connect with everyone before her marriage to the Young Valley Lord, but faltered when trying to recall a phrase. Needing courage before playing the zither, she reached for a drink. Baiwan, from her seat, suggested a toast to Jin Muqiu before her performance and poured a drink for her. Su Zhuozhuo saw this and was visibly alarmed, but couldn't stop it. After drinking, Jin Muqiu's carefully constructed persona broke down.
She declared that everyone present seemed unwilling to be there and shouldn't have to abide by prescribed rules. She passionately questioned why women were considered low and weak first and why they had to follow so many rules after marriage, unable to pursue their true desires like becoming heroines, tailors, or authors. She urged the other women to pursue their dreams. Mrs. Yu was astonished, and the other guests reacted with surprise.
Jin Muqiu confronted Mrs. Yu, calling her frightening due to her constant anger, and repeatedly insisted on toasting her and urging her to smile more. Baiwan joined Jin Muqiu in this drunken disruption, helping her press Mrs. Yu to drink. During the escalating chaos, Zi Jing, who was present, quietly drew a knife behind Baiwan. At that precise moment, Qingyun, who was observing, saw a distinctive mark on Baiwan's arm.
He reacted with shock, recalling a memory (presumably from his father) of someone named A Chu who had that mark and was said to be dead. Recognizing Baiwan as A Chu, Qingyun immediately intervened, stopping Zi Jing before she could attack Baiwan. Drawn by the disturbance, the men who had been discussing important martial world matters elsewhere in Taoyuan Valley arrived. Qu Zheng found the heavily inebriated Baiwan and carried her away.
The Young Valley Lord escorted the equally drunk Jin Muqiu back to her room. In her drunken state, Jin Muqiu confessed to the Young Valley Lord that she had lied about being a refined lady, listing all the things she disliked and how exhausting the pretense was. She asked if he would still love her if she wasn't a refined lady.
The Young Valley Lord replied that he had never cared whether she was a refined lady, but the public scene had upset his parents, and his immediate concern was resolving the situation for her. As she spoke, Jin Muqiu leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep. Qu Zheng attended to the very drunk Baiwan. He gently probed her about her life before she joined Jin's Escort Agency five years prior, including her identity then.
Baiwan stated she couldn't remember anything about what she did or who she was before that time. Qu Zheng did not push further but looked at a fox pendant he possessed. A flashback sequence showed Qu Zheng giving the same pendant to a woman named A Chu under the moonlight five years earlier, declaring it their love token and asking her to keep it safe. They exchanged vows of eternal love and fidelity under the moon.
The flashback revealed that Qu Zheng waited for A Chu three days after they left a certain valley, but she disappeared. He explained that he had been searching for her for five years and finally found her as the fearless Baiwan working for Jin's Escort Agency, which caused him to change his original plans and follow her.
He mentioned arranging for the transport of the Puyuan Canon by Jin's Escort Agency, noting that the Canon had previously lured a certain person to Yinxue Village, and he expected this person to appear when the warehouse holding the Canon was opened in two days. He observed that Baiwan seemed to be sleeping peacefully, perhaps finding rest after a perilous journey.
Speaking to an unseen associate, Qu Zheng stated he would not tell Baiwan about her past or her identity as A Chu yet, as she was unintentionally involved, and less knowledge was safer for her while the main threat persisted. He planned to reveal everything when the time was right.
