The Unexpected Marriage Episode 14 Recap
> The Unexpected Marriage Recap
Lv Jing maintained his caution despite the reported annihilation of the Yu forces, leading soldiers on patrol. Youmou voiced his frustration, finding the continued vigilance unnecessary and complaining about missing a planned outing with Jinyan to see clay figures. During the patrol, they were ambushed by black-clothed figures outside a bamboo grove. Having anticipated trouble, Lv Jing's men subdued the attackers, but they ingested hidden poison and died without revealing their identity.
The pattern on their cuffs suggested they were descendants of the Yu remnants. Lv Jing inquired about any unusual activity at the mansions of the Second Prince, Lv Hou, and the Fifth Prince, noting that Lv Hou had added guards. He also mentioned hearing about martial arts masters entering the city, whose allegiance was unknown. While the Second and Fifth Princes were rivals for the throne, any connection to Yu remnants constituted a capital crime.
Believing the attacks were likely aimed at Prince Qin's Mansion before his impending marriage to Changsheng and perhaps linked to the unresolved Crown Prince issue, Lv Jing ordered Youmou to thoroughly investigate the bandits' background and the recently arrived martial artists. He also instructed Youyong to increase guards at Huadeng Pavilion and ensure Changsheng did not leave the mansion for her safety, emphasizing that there could be no mistakes.
Changsheng felt stifled by the restrictions, comparing herself to a caged bird wanting to fly. She was constantly followed by guards and grew increasingly bored. She tried various distractions but found them tedious. Determined to leave, she went to find Lv Jing, intending to ask him directly, despite her maids' worries about her temper. She complained about being guarded so strictly, like she was trying to escape her marriage.
Resolving to defy him, she attempted to slip out and was pursued by her maids and guards. She climbed onto the roof, finding it frustrating but refusing to come down. Her maids warned her she couldn't get out if Lv Jing didn't want her to, saying even a fly couldn't escape. She joked back, quoting a line about a red apricot blooming over a wall, though her maids misunderstood her meaning.
While sunbathing on the roof, she slipped and was caught by Lv Jing. He teased her, suggesting she invite him next time she planned such an activity. As he turned away, she quickly snatched a token from his belt, hoping to use it to gain her freedom, but discovered later it was a fake. Unable to understand why Lv Jing was keeping her confined without explanation, Changsheng suspected something serious was happening outside.
She decided to find out from Youyong and Youmou. Inviting them to her room, she pressured them into drinking alcohol despite their protests about being on duty. She offered a deal: she wouldn't report them if they answered her questions about recent events. Under pressure, they revealed that there had been an assassination attempt recently and that the increased guards and her confinement were a result of this, intended to protect her.
After learning about the assassination attempt, Changsheng stopped trying to leave the mansion immediately, understanding Lv Jing's concerns. She spent her days finding ways to amuse herself indoors, such as catching ants with Jinyan and Shenxing, though her maids found her ideas increasingly peculiar. Later, Lv Jing came to see her, informing her that the remaining bandits had been cleared and it was now safe. He explained that her previous confinement was solely for her safety.
He then invited her to accompany him out to the monthly market. Changsheng was thrilled by the offer, especially hearing about the food and goods available, and eagerly accepted. It was Changsheng's first time seeing the capital's bustling market, and she was captivated by everything around her.
Although she initially promised to follow Lv Jing closely and keep a low profile as he instructed, her excitement led her to wander off to look at various stalls, causing Jinyan and Shenxing to struggle to keep up. She bought jewelry, fabrics (noting the quality compared to Fuyu's), and other items, even picking out fabric she planned to make into a hat for Lv Jing. Showing him a mask she bought, she joked his expression matched it.
Lv Jing gently reminded her of her promise to stay by his side. Changsheng expressed her awe at Great Tang's prosperity, comparing its diverse goods and crafts to Fuyu's focus on salt production. She spoke about her desire to see handicraft skills brought to Fuyu to improve its people's lives and her hope to establish trade between Great Tang and Fuyu as Prince Qin's consort.
Lv Jing acknowledged her ambition and told her she would see such things in Fuyu one day, promising he would spare no effort to ensure the well-being of both Great Tang and Fuyu's people. They went to buy sugarcoated haws, which promptly fell. As Changsheng went back to buy another, Lv Jing accompanied her. Suddenly, a horse became startled and bolted towards the crowded street.
Lv Jing quickly shielded Changsheng and pushed people out of the way, but was struck in the arm by an arrow in the chaos. More assassins emerged, but Youyong, Youmou, and the shadow guards arrived quickly, subduing the attackers. Like the previous group, these assassins also committed suicide by poison. Their bodies were taken back to the mansion for examination. The investigation revealed that the assassins' cuff patterns were identical to those from the previous attack.
Furthermore, a scarred totem was found on their backs, covering a royal slave imprint. After careful examination, the scar was identified as being intended to hide the original mark, which was vaguely recognizable as the Second Prince, Lv Hou's, totem. Lv Jing found the evidence too obvious and suspected it was deliberately planted to frame Lv Hou.
He instructed Youyong and Youmou to continue their investigation thoroughly, not to be misled by the apparent clues, while also ensuring they didn't miss any genuine leads. He also ordered additional guards for Changsheng's safety. News of the attack and Prince Qin's injury quickly spread through the capital. Rumors began circulating that Changsheng was a "lone star" who brought bad luck and was the cause of Lv Jing's injury.
These rumors, which claimed to have originated in Fuyu, were even spread by storytellers in the market. Jinyan and Shenxing, hearing the malicious gossip, were outraged and wanted to confront the storyteller, but Changsheng stopped them. She calmly asked what had happened, and her maids explained the rumor about her being a lone star reincarnation destined to harm Great Tang's fortune, realizing that someone was deliberately spreading these tales.
Changsheng stated she was aware of the situation and had it under control. Meanwhile, the Second Prince, Lv Hou, brought the incident before the Emperor, adding fuel to the rumors. He described the sudden madness of Lv Jing's carriage horse and suggested it validated the rumors that Changsheng was a lone star who could adversely affect Great Tang's destiny.
While cautioning his son against reckless speech, the Emperor became concerned about the potential impact on the kingdom's fortune and ordered Changsheng to be summoned to the palace. Upon receiving the summons, Changsheng suspected the rumors were deliberately orchestrated to target her. Her maids worried it was a trap and urged her not to go, fearing for her safety. Changsheng recognized the dilemma: refusing to go would make her seem guilty, but going could be dangerous.
Deciding she had to face the situation herself as it began with her, she chose not to inform Lv Jing, who was busy recovering. She assured her maids she would find a way to handle it. At the palace, Changsheng met with the Emperor. Observing his garden, she commented that planting lilac and daffodil together was unsuitable due to their different needs, explaining how they would hinder each other's growth when combined but thrive separately.
She used this botanical observation to suggest a natural law of interdependence and mutual harm, drawing an analogy about how things, including people, interact. The Emperor praised her insight, prompting Changsheng to confess a matter regarding her past. She admitted that in Fuyu, she had been subject to a rumor branding her a "lone star," which was said to prevent her from finding a suitable partner.
When the Emperor questioned if this meant the marriage alliance with Great Tang was against her wishes, Changsheng clarified the opposite: she had actively sought the union herself. She added that while she didn't care about the rumors personally, she did not wish for these unfounded stories to negatively impact Prince Jing now that she was marrying into Great Tang. The Emperor dismissed the topic gently, noting their meeting was for appreciating the garden.
Soon after, an envoy from An presented a letter written in their updated script, which none of the officials present, including the well-versed Princess Royal Wan, could fully understand. Changsheng, despite initial skepticism from others who pointed out that even the Princess Royal couldn't read it, boldly requested permission from the Emperor to try. The Emperor agreed.
Changsheng successfully translated the letter, explaining it was a respectful communication from An reporting on recently quelled banditry near the border and expressing well wishes for the Emperor's health. The Emperor was astonished by her ability, noting her grasp of complex terms. Changsheng humbly explained her long-standing interest in studying different languages, particularly An's evolving script. The Emperor and Princess Royal Wan were impressed by her skills.
Later, the Second Prince, Lv Hou, offered Changsheng tea at the Emperor's suggestion, remarking she must be thirsty. As she accepted the tea, the Emperor observed her and noticed a flicker of fear in her expression towards Lv Hou. He directly questioned her about why she seemed afraid of his Second Prince, especially after being fearless before the Emperor himself. Changsheng hesitated, implying the reason was delicate and might cause a rift between father and son if revealed. The Emperor, intrigued, insisted on knowing, promising he would not punish her for speaking the truth.
