Fight For Love Episode 13 Recap
> Fight For Love Recap
Chu Yu, having covertly entered the Eldest Princess's Mansion, confided in Xue Hanmei about her suspicion that a follower within the household had hostile intentions. She revealed that unique gifts she had crafted for the Eldest Princess had appeared in Qiju Store, a situation she believed Her Highness would never permit, thus indicating a thief was at work.
Chu Yu questioned the selection process for followers, subtly implying that while talent was valued, their backgrounds, despite supposed checks, might not be fully transparent, raising concerns for the Eldest Princess's safety. Xue Hanmei, who did not suspect Chu Yu, listened intently. Before their conversation could conclude, the Eldest Princess, Li Changming, and her guards discovered them.
Li Changming expressed surprise at their late-night meeting, teasing Chu Yu about her apparent quickness to develop new affections after her husband's passing, and even playfully offered Xue Hanmei to her. Chu Yu quickly apologized, explaining it was all in jest. While Li Changming sternly warned Chu Yu against future unauthorized visits to her mansion, she ultimately decided against punishment, acknowledging their acquaintance.
Xue Hanmei then stepped in to clarify Chu Yu's actions, explaining that she merely sought a way to get closer to the Eldest Princess and present her with a gift, which led to her unconventional entry. Li Changming accepted this explanation and revealed her own predicament: the national treasury was depleted due to recent floods and imperial relief efforts, and she needed to raise 100,000 taels.
She expressed frustration that while the capital's nobles frequently held lavish gatherings, they were reluctant to contribute to public welfare. Xue Hanmei had already devised a method to encourage donations but lacked an opportunity. Seizing the moment, Chu Yu proposed hosting a grand auction banquet in Qinxi Valley, a location known for its scenic beauty and popularity among the wealthy elite.
She argued that since the nobles enjoyed opulent gatherings and were big spenders, an auction would appeal to their tastes. Li Changming, finding the idea intriguing, agreed and entrusted Chu Yu with organizing the event and drafting the guest list. As Xue Hanmei accompanied Chu Yu out, Wei Yun, who had overheard a follower's mistaken report about Chu Yu being allowed to choose a follower from the Princess's retinue, watched their pleasant exchange.
Overtaken by a surge of jealousy, he strode forward and abruptly took a box of pastries that Xue Hanmei was handing to Chu Yu. Later, in their carriage, Wei Yun questioned Chu Yu about involving Xue Hanmei in her investigation, suggesting that Xue Hanmei himself could be the problematic individual. Chu Yu found his behavior peculiar, especially when he physically checked her for illness, leading to a playful confrontation about his sudden closeness.
The conversation shifted, with Wei Yun asking if Chu Yu would have married his late brother if he were alive. Chu Yu replied that while his brother was an honorable man, "there are no 'ifs' in this world." She then lightheartedly suggested bringing Wei Yun as her treasure to the upcoming auction, declaring she would never part with him. The Eldest Princess's relationship with Xue Hanmei ran deeper than that of a mere employer and subordinate.
She reflected on how he had healed her deeper wounds, not just physical scars, with flashbacks showing him comforting her during nightmares. Despite this profound connection, Li Changming exhibited jealousy upon noticing Xue Hanmei's interactions with Chu Yu, accusing them of exchanging glances under her supervision. When confronted, Xue Hanmei, with a hint of playful deference, reminded Her Highness that he was merely a follower and would obey her commands.
This response, however, only inflamed Li Changming's temper, prompting her to order him to leave, a command she immediately regretted after he departed. That night, Wei Yun experienced an unusual dream. In it, Chu Yu directly confronted him, listing his actions—hiding her bell, displaying jealousy, and avoiding her gaze—as undeniable proof of his affection. She confidently asserted that he liked her, reminding him of their first encounter in Spring Breeze House.
Upon waking, Wei Yun considered that since there was no existing relationship between Chu Yu and his deceased brother, he was free to act on his burgeoning feelings for her. On the day of the auction banquet, Chu Yu, dressed in exquisite attire, arrived at Qinxi Valley.
Earlier, Song Wenchang had personally invited Chu Jin to the event, offering her a special herb to aid Chu Linyang's recovery and insisting on providing a treasure for Chu Jin to present at the auction, emphasizing his commitment to hospitality. Meanwhile, Wei Yun was conspicuously absent from the banquet.
He and Chu Yu had previously decided, through a rigged coin toss (which Wei Yun manipulated to win), that he would infiltrate Yao Yong's mansion to find evidence while Chu Yu kept Yao Yong occupied at the event. At the banquet, General Yao Yong, noticing Wei Yun's absence, attempted to make an early departure, citing a "family emergency." However, Chu Yu successfully stalled him, highlighting the impropriety of leaving before the Eldest Princess's arrival.
As Li Changming made her grand entrance and commenced the auction by bidding on her own imperial white jade ring, Wei Yun and Wei Qiu were already deep inside Yao Yong's study. There, they discovered a secret room secured by a gear lock, which Wei Qiu began to painstakingly decipher, estimating a fifteen-minute timeframe. Back at the banquet, Chu Yu presented her dagger as an auction item, which Yao Yong purchased for eighty taels.
Yao Yong, however, had no treasure to offer. With the banquet progressing and the guards at Yao Mansion closing in on Wei Yun, Yao Yong made another attempt to leave. To further delay Yao Yong and provide Wei Yun with critical time, Chu Yu staged a dramatic incident, deliberately injuring herself and loudly proclaiming the presence of a North Qi assassin. Qinxi Valley was immediately sealed, trapping Yao Yong inside.
Chu Yu maintained that the assailant used a distinctive North Qi scimitar. However, Wang Linlang publicly challenged her account, vehemently swearing that she had witnessed Chu Yu inflict the wound upon herself with a dagger. This revelation sparked whispers among the guests, some speculating that Chu Yu intended to falsely implicate Li Changming in collusion with North Qi. Yao Yong seized the opportunity, offering his personal physician to examine Chu Yu.
Yet, Li Changming sharply rebuked Yao Yong's presumption, questioning his physician's credibility and implying ulterior motives. Instead, she called upon Tuantuan, subtly instructing her through a knowing glance to corroborate Chu Yu's fabricated story. Tuantuan, following the Eldest Princess's lead, falsely reported that the wound was long, shaped like a crescent moon, deep, and unmistakably inflicted by a powerful blow from a North Qi scimitar. Amidst the confusion, a cold arrow suddenly flew towards Chu Yu. Without a moment's hesitation, Gu Chusheng shouted a warning and selflessly threw himself in front of her, taking the arrow's impact into his own body.
