The Unexpected Marriage Episode 7 Recap
> The Unexpected Marriage Recap
During a pitch-pot game, an accidental slip caused Changsheng and Lv Jing to fall, resulting in an unexpected kiss. Simultaneously, the arrow landed in the pot marked with the words "peace-making marriage," an event interpreted as a sign from heaven.
Changsheng was deeply resistant to the idea of a peace-making marriage, having heard rumors that Prince Qin was not only incredibly ugly with "round eyes and a large forehead, two protruding ears, and a mouth full of fangs," but also violent, and even cannibalistic. Later, Lv Jing suggested a method for Changsheng to confront her true feelings.
He asked her to close her eyes, relax, and recall the moments she felt happiest, found most humor, or was most deeply moved, and identify the person who appeared in her mind. Changsheng blurted out "It's you," but immediately became flustered, trying to dismiss him and urge him to leave, telling herself he was just the envoy and the marriage wasn't with him.
Still troubled by the unexpected person in her thoughts, Changsheng found herself questioning why it was Lv Jing. Reflecting on her life, she acknowledged her poor reputation had left her with slim prospects for marriage, making the looming peace-making marriage a difficult fate. She confessed that her past interactions with Shen Bin and Yang Wulang were merely panicked attempts to avoid this outcome.
She admitted that while General Zhao Huaibi, with his "great ambitions," seemed like a suitable match, he and Princess Guangde were truly in love, making her merely a "passerby" in their story. She realized Lv Jing's "good advice" had helped her finally "see her heart," yet she understood that expressing any feelings for the Great Tang envoy was impossible, given their disparate positions. The following day, Changsheng was heading to the Muyan Forest when Lv Jing insisted on accompanying her.
She tried to dissuade him, describing the area as boring and dirty, but he joined her nonetheless. In the forest, she taught him how to gently brush the salt frost from the trees, describing the need to feel the tree's "breathing" with each motion. Lv Jing observed that the Muyan tree, rough on the outside but delicate within, reminded him of her. He tried harvesting the salt himself, claiming he could feel "her reluctance and unwillingness."
They then visited the Pulping Field, where Changsheng demonstrated the process of making pulp for framing paintings and calligraphy. She explained the pulp's magical properties for preservation and lamented that Fuyu's people were less literate than those in Great Tang, leading to underdeveloped printing and framing techniques. She shared her grand ambition to make everyone literate and for Fuyu to become prosperous and peaceful, free of crime and ignorance, earning Lv Jing's admiration.
At the powder washing pool, she showed him how to prepare flour for dough, explaining the need to filter out bran, and invited him to try kneading the dough, which they did together. Meanwhile, Princess Guangde, still distraught and unwell, sought out Zhao Huaibi. Despite having prepared numerous strategies to win him back, their conversation led her to a profound realization, which she later attributed to Changsheng's words.
She understood that true affection wasn't about possessing the beloved or destroying everything when hope was lost. After confirming that Zhao Huaibi had indeed requested to marry Changsheng, she wished him and Changsheng well and left sadly, acknowledging their fate lay perhaps in another life. Zhao Huaibi was visibly distressed after her departure. Guangde retreated to her palace, consumed by sorrow, refusing to eat or drink, and listening only to mournful songs about lost love.
Witnessing her daughter's despair, Noble Consort Xian tearfully pleaded with the Emperor to intervene in Guangde's marital fate, particularly concerning the possibility of her being chosen for the peace-making marriage to a distant land. The Emperor, initially hesitant to force anyone, summoned Zhao Huaibi. When Zhao Huaibi arrived, the Emperor expressed concern about his age and lack of a wife. Zhao Huaibi then revealed he had decided to request marriage to Princess Changsheng, surprising the Emperor.
At the same time, Xiao Jin confessed to Xie Lin that she felt Changsheng had become distant from her, a feeling worse than having argued. Xie Lin, also known as Sanlang, deduced that Changsheng's change might be related to the help Xiao Jin had given to Guangde.
Xiao Jin admitted to tipping off Guangde, explaining her brother, Xiao Zilv, genuinely liked Changsheng but was trying to prevent her from marrying anyone else so she'd have no choice but to marry him. Xie Lin pointed out that Xiao Jin's actions stemmed from a fear of Changsheng marrying her own brother.
When Changsheng arrived for a visit, bringing fruit, she reassured a guilt-ridden Xiao Jin that she understood her intentions were for her well-being and that she had never intended to marry Xiao Zilv, clarifying that their bond was based on friendship and duty, not romantic love. Later, Changsheng visited Zhao Huaibi. She inquired if he was still serious about marrying her. He affirmed his commitment, stating he always kept his promises.
When she pressed him on whether his intention was based on a promise or true affection, she picked up an item (implied to be a gift from her) and dropped it into a nearby brazier. He seemed surprised but did not stop her. She then picked up the security bracelet Guangde had given him and made to throw it in as well, prompting him to snatch it away quickly. Seeing his reaction, Changsheng understood where his heart truly lay.
She urged him to go to Guangde, telling him that without him, she would die, and reminded him that as a general he fought to protect those he loved. She pointed out that the Envoy was discussing the peace-making marriage with the Emperor right then and urged him to go quickly. He thanked her and rushed to the Imperial Study.
The Envoy was discussing the eligible candidates, Princess Changsheng and Princess Guangde, with the Emperor, suggesting Guangde might be a good choice as she had bet she would accept the peace-making marriage if she didn't find a husband before his departure. Zhao Huaibi burst in, despite being told he couldn't be seen, knelt before the Emperor, and pleaded for permission to marry Princess Guangde. News of Zhao Huaibi's request to marry her reached Guangde, leaving her stunned.
She confronted Changsheng, who admitted she was "incompetent" and couldn't win Zhao Huaibi's heart, calling herself the "defeated one," but clarified she wasn't giving him up, merely facilitating his union with the one he already loved. She insisted she lost because of "inferior skill," not by yielding.
As Guangde began to cry, Changsheng urged her to stop, saying she preferred her argumentative nature, and shared some "tips" from her storybooks about how couples come together – through arguments, childhood bonds, fate, or simply persistent effort – suggesting Guangde use these to find her own beloved. Guangde thanked her, though Changsheng maintained she lost fairly and the peace-making marriage was not yet decided. Later, speaking with Lv Jing, Changsheng's somber mood was evident.
Lv Jing commented on her "forced smile," asking if she'd become soft-hearted at the last moment (referring to giving up Zhao Huaibi). Changsheng replied that she wasn't forcing the smile because someone was waiting for her, implying a hopeful future. When Lv Jing offered to share details of his discussion with the Emperor, she declined, stating his words were irreversible and her own fate was beyond her control.
She asked about Great Tang, receiving a surprisingly negative description from Lv Jing, who painted it as remote, lawless, and deceitful, contradicting its reputation for wealth and literacy. As she softly recited a poem about a woman leaving her home for a distant marriage, Lv Jing asked if she regretted the situation. She admitted she was "afraid." When he asked if "he" felt regret, he replied he was "reluctant." Asking her if she was reluctant, Changsheng confessed, "I kind of regret it."
