The Unexpected Marriage Episode 11 Recap
> The Unexpected Marriage Recap
The Grand Tutor spent a sleepless night selecting an auspicious date for Prince Qin's wedding. Meanwhile, in Prince Qin's Mansion, Youyong and Youmou were instructed by Lv Jing, who dislikes red bean cakes himself, to prepare some good-looking ones to be sent to Princess Changsheng. Youyong wondered why Lv Jing, known as Prince Qin, hadn't gone to welcome the princess in person.
Youmou explained that as an envoy in Fuyu, revealing his true identity then would have complicated things with Princess Changsheng, given her temper. Lv Jing confirmed this assessment. Late that night, Princess Changsheng felt hungry and went to the kitchen with Jinyan. There, she chatted with the chef and asked about Prince Qin.
Despite the chef's praise for Prince Qin's diligent nature, martial skills, and care for his people, Princess Changsheng, having heard rumors of his cruelty and bloodthirstiness, twisted every positive description into a negative one in her mind. The chef, understanding her hunger, offered to cook noodles. Princess Changsheng readily accepted, requesting a soft-boiled egg, while Jinyan asked for a well-done one. Princess Changsheng then asked the chef about Prince Qin's preferences in women.
The chef reassured her that Prince Qin had lived a secluded life since leaving the palace, had no women in his mansion, and kept his distance from female company, even having eunuchs as servants. In the imperial study, the Emperor summoned the Grand Tutor to change the wedding date for Prince Qin and Princess Changsheng due to the princess's delayed arrival.
To the Emperor's surprise, the Grand Tutor, looking exhausted from working all night, announced he had already selected a new date: the seventh day of the seventh month, at a specific auspicious time, the best day for a wedding in a century. The Emperor was pleased and decreed that the wedding and the enfeoffment ceremony would be held on the same day.
Back at Prince Qin's mansion, the servants reported that everything was being prepared according to Lv Jing's instructions, including sending food Princess Changsheng liked daily. They suggested he visit her now that the wedding was postponed, finding it more convenient than sending messages. Lv Jing felt he couldn't visit yet as she still didn't know his true identity, making an explanation difficult. He decided against visiting for the moment.
Later, Princess Changsheng was delighted to receive braised lamb trotters and red bean cakes. She wondered how Prince Qin knew her preferences and speculated the red beans might symbolize lovesickness, though she dismissed the idea as they had never met. Noticing the lamb trotters tasted exactly like those from Wangchun Restaurant in Fuyu, she wondered if Prince Qin had invited the chef for her, acknowledging how well he treated her. Afterwards, she instructed Jinyan to gather information about Prince Qin.
Meanwhile, in Fuyu, Xiao Zilv received a letter from Princess Changsheng, delivered by Shenxing. He inquired about Princess Changsheng's well-being and if she had met Prince Qin. Shenxing reported she hadn't met him but confirmed arrangements for her stay were suitable, as if her preferences were known in advance. Xiao Zilv, unimpressed, read Princess Changsheng's letter and smiled, instructing Shenxing to tell her he would visit her in Prince Qin's Mansion after the welcoming banquet.
Jinyan presented Princess Changsheng with a thick stack of notes detailing rumors about Prince Qin. Reading it, Princess Changsheng found his alleged wrongdoings too numerous to list. She felt betrayed by Yi'an, whom she had trusted, believing he had tricked her into marrying such a person. She declared she would deal with Yi'an if she saw him. Just then, Yi'an appeared. Princess Changsheng confronted him, accusing him of being favored by Prince Qin and ignoring her.
Yi'an tried to tell her something about Prince Qin, but she interrupted, recounting the terrible rumors she had heard. Based on the rumors and Prince Qin's absence, she speculated he was gravely ill or possibly even dead, and that his death was being kept secret. Yi'an's reaction seemed to confirm her suspicions. Believing Prince Qin was dead and fearing for her safety, Princess Changsheng decided she needed to understand the layout of the mansion to prepare for a potential escape.
She donned black night clothes and masked her face, sneaking into Prince Qin's main courtyard with Jinyan watching from a distance. Discovered by guards, she tried to reveal her identity as Princess Changsheng, but the guards were skeptical, stating the real princess was rumored to be virtuous and beautiful, unlike the figure they saw before them. As the guards prepared to seize her, she was startled and fell from a rockery into a pond.
Yi'an appeared, lightly stepping on the water's surface to catch her and land safely. The guards, recognizing Yi'an as Prince Qin, immediately knelt and paid their respects. Princess Changsheng was stunned to realize that Yi'an was Prince Qin. Mortified, remembering all the terrible things she had said about Prince Qin to Yi'an's face, she was unable to meet his gaze. Prince Qin confirmed her identity to the guards, identifying her as his future wife and the mistress of the mansion.
He ordered the guards to be careful and protect her, ensuring the night's events were kept secret. Princess Changsheng was overwhelmed by the revelation. Prince Qin explained that Yi'an was his pet name, unknown since he became Prince Qin. Princess Changsheng confronted him about his reputation, calling him violent, murderous, and a freak. Prince Qin asked if she believed the rumors over him. She claimed she didn't disbelieve him, but in Great Tang, rumors spread easily.
He told her to trust only him from now on. As he approached her, asking what she thought he was going to do, she became flustered. He joked that he hadn't killed anyone in a long time, implying she might think he would kill her. She quickly stated she would end her own life if necessary, showing her strong resistance to the marriage. For the next three days, Princess Changsheng avoided Prince Qin.
Even when You Yong and Youmou came on his behalf, they were turned away by Jinyan and Shenxing. Lv Jing, hearing she was eating normally despite refusing visitors, concluded she was waiting for him to make the first move. He decided to go see her. Around the same time, Princess Changsheng heard a report from Xiao Zilv's messenger that the Muyan tree saplings brought from Fuyu might not survive the soil conditions in Great Tang.
Concerned, she rushed out towards the Muyan Forest. Lv Jing, encountering her on horseback, offered her a ride, stating he knew where she was going. He took her directly to the forest. The saplings appeared to be doing well. Lv Jing began watering the trees, following Princess Changsheng as she moved from one sapling to another.
He used the opportunity to apologize for hiding his identity, explaining it was necessary for her safety during their journey and he hadn't found a suitable time to tell her later. He promised to never lie to her again. Princess Changsheng remained distant. Lv Jing then recited a poem he had written for her. Princess Changsheng recognized it and accused him of deliberately trying to embarrass her and keeping her in the dark.
Lv Jing explained the first two lines were a hint to his identity, implying Yi'an was Prince Qin. Princess Changsheng was unconvinced that was a clear hint. He reiterated that Yi'an was his courtesy name, known only to his closest circle. He then mentioned she had looked for him before. She claimed it was only to say goodbye, but Lv Jing summoned You Yong and Youmou, who confirmed she had been looking for him and behaving differently.
Princess Changsheng dismissed their testimony as they were his servants. Lv Jing sent them away. He then suggested she could continue to think of him as Yi'an so she didn't have to face a strange husband. As the servants left, remarking on the rising wind, Princess Changsheng's ancient book was blown into the water. As she bent down to retrieve it, Xiao Zilv appeared, mistaking her action for something else entirely. He rushed over and pulled at her, but his intervention backfired, causing both of them to fall into the water.
