The Unexpected Marriage Episode 8 Recap
> The Unexpected Marriage Recap
Noble Consort Xian visited Princess Changsheng, bringing gifts and expressing deep gratitude for Changsheng's role in allowing Guangde to remain by her side, calling Guangde her life. Princess Consort, Changsheng's mother and Prince Changle's wife, became visibly angry, questioning if Changsheng was not equally her precious daughter. She lamented their years of service to the crown only to have their daughter sacrificed, accusing others of being cruel.
Prince Changle attempted to quiet her, but she refused, urging him to confront his imperial brother instead. She declared that women were sacrificed to protect the country and swore she would not live if Changsheng was gone. Noble Consort Xian tried to calm her, suggesting a more suitable candidate might be found as the imperial decree wasn't finalized. Princess Consort continued to weep over her daughter's fate. Changsheng apologized to Noble Consort Xian for her mother's distressed words.
Noble Consort Xian was magnanimous, feeling ashamed for her past harshness towards Changsheng and expressing gratitude for Changsheng's lack of resentment. She promised to do her utmost to negotiate the peace marriage and prevent Changsheng from marrying far away, noting there was still one day before the Great Tang envoy departed, and therefore hope. Changsheng thanked her.
Noble Consort Xian mentioned the upcoming joint wedding of Guangde and Jin, and Changsheng expressed regret that she couldn't attend, asking Noble Consort Xian to convey her blessings. Noble Consort Xian sighed about the unfairness of fate towards Changsheng. After Noble Consort Xian left, Changsheng spoke with Lv Jing. Lv Jing commented that her kind actions had influenced Noble Consort Xian and helped the union of Guangde and General Zhao. Changsheng stated she simply facilitated a good match.
Lv Jing inquired about her intentions regarding the peace marriage. Changsheng explained her predicament: she was the only suitable candidate. Refusing would mean the Emperor losing credibility abroad and she would be the sinner if war broke out. Going meant facing an unknown husband with terrifying rumors, likely resulting in great hardship. She acknowledged the fears surrounding Prince Qin's rumored cruelty and ugliness but stated she was still happy to see Lv Jing.
She asked him, being skilled at painting, to draw Prince Qin's portrait, and he agreed. Lv Jing then reminded her that she still had a choice about whether to go or stay. Prince Changle returned home in tears, lamenting his actions and apologizing to Changsheng. His wife, the Princess Consort, reacted with exasperation and called him useless, sarcastically asking if his tears were those of success. She told Changsheng to disregard her father and focus on her own fate.
Seeing the Great Tang envoy (Lv Jing), she conceived a plan. Later, she proposed to Changsheng the idea of having Lv Jing marry into their family as a way to avoid the peace marriage. Changsheng was initially shocked, dismissing the idea as absurd given Lv Jing's identity as the Great Tang envoy and Prince Qin's confidant, arguing it would only escalate tensions with Great Tang.
However, the Princess Consort insisted she was serious and believed it an ingenious solution, adding she had observed Changsheng seemed to have feelings for him and saw it as a last resort. Lv Jing was later seen discussing arrangements with his companions, indicating their trip to Fuyu had been productive for future endeavors.
Princess Consort approached Lv Jing as he was packing, urging him to stay in Fuyu permanently rather than return to Great Tang, subtly suggesting he could marry Changsheng if he promised to treat her well, and asking for his opinion of Changsheng. Lv Jing praised Changsheng's character and beauty but called his own words excessive.
The Princess Consort conveyed to Changsheng that Lv Jing had reacted with excitement to the idea of marrying into their family, although Changsheng seemed skeptical of her mother's dramatic account. Princess Consort then advised Changsheng to present a "whole new" version of herself to Lv Jing. Changsheng appeared before Lv Jing having altered her appearance significantly, which made him laugh. She self-consciously asked if she looked terrible. Lv Jing commented on her appearance, and Changsheng left, claiming to be fine.
Lv Jing remarked that she was "quite something." Changsheng later spoke with Lv Jing, confirming her mother had discussed the idea of him marrying into the family. Lv Jing asked for her thoughts. Changsheng dismissed the possibility, explaining that as the Great Tang envoy and Prince Qin's trusted aide, such an action would infuriate Prince Qin and make the situation worse. Lv Jing noted her concern for him. Changsheng stated she didn't want to involve others.
Lv Jing then probed if she had developed feelings for him during their time together. When she implicitly acknowledged this, he urged restraint, stating her decision to go through with the peace marriage was final. He pressed her, asking what she would choose if there were an opportunity to turn back. Changsheng steadfastly replied that she didn't believe in "ifs" in this life, but hoped for a next life to fulfill regrets, making it clear her current path was set.
Lv Jing accepted her answer, calling her unconventional, which she heard and countered by saying she was on a "point of no return." Lv Jing was seen walking with his companions, planning to buy a mirror as a gift for Changsheng before his departure. They overheard a father arguing with his daughter who was being forced into marriage against her will and threatening suicide, declaring she would rather die than marry someone she didn't love.
Lv Jing commented on the girl's strong spirit, similar to Changsheng's, and reflected on how some, like caged birds, would die if deprived of their freedom to choose. At night, Lv Jing spoke with Changsheng (or reflected on their conversation), where she pressed him about the fearsome reputation of Prince Qin, asking if he was truly cruel, ugly, and untrustworthy. Lv Jing playfully confirmed the worst rumors before acknowledging her seriousness and her trust in him.
She asked if Prince Qin would like her, and he teasingly affirmed it, hinting that he knew because she was the one he had chosen, listing her many qualities, though misusing a phrase, which she corrected. They shared a quiet moment, reflecting on cherished times, before Changsheng reiterated her decision regarding the peace marriage was final. Separately, Jin spoke with her brother Xiao Zilv, both visibly unhappy about Changsheng's impending departure.
Jin noted Xiao Zilv seemed more distressed than her, and he admitted his helplessness as Changsheng was both the woman he loved and his friend, feeling inadequate when others like Guangde were pleading with the Emperor. He called Changsheng stubborn and remarked she wouldn't have to marry abroad if she simply married him. Jin pointed out that she couldn't propose herself.
She urged Xiao Zilv to stop just hoping things would change and make a sincere proposal, expressing his true feelings beyond their lifelong friendship. He admitted he had always taken proactive steps, but she had always refused, preferring the peace marriage. Jin stressed the need for a serious, romantic proposal. Convinced by Jin's argument, Xiao Zilv resolved to act. He went to Changsheng and proposed marriage directly. Changsheng, suspicious, initially thought it was one of his usual tricks.
He insisted he was serious and would immediately seek an imperial marriage decree if she accepted. Changsheng refused, explaining she saw through his likely plan to mock her and slander her name if she agreed and left. Xiao Zilv vehemently maintained his sincerity, pushing his attendant away who tried to usher him out.
He pleaded with Changsheng, expressing his genuine deep feelings, his concern for her welfare on the difficult journey and facing Prince Qin, and his promise of complete devotion if she stayed and married him, adding that he would wait for her answer should she change her mind. After he left, his attendant noted his apparent sincerity, but Changsheng confided that she felt only friendship for him, and involving him in defying the Emperor and endangering his family would be heartless.
She concluded it was too late and if sacrifice was necessary, she preferred it to be meaningful. Changsheng visited Lv Jing before his departure to offer him some Fuyu specialties as farewell gifts. Lv Jing inquired if she was reconsidering the peace marriage and needed his help. Changsheng presented some items, jokingly identifying them as potent poisons like "Soul-Stirring Powder" and "Soul-breaking Pills," meant as preparation in case Prince Qin was truly as cruel as rumored.
She then revealed they were harmless herbal remedies: mint pills and hawthorn powder for his journey, meant to alleviate travel sickness. Lv Jing thanked her for her thoughtfulness. They conversed about the passage of time and place, with Changsheng expressing her enduring loyalty to her homeland, stating her commitment to the peace marriage was voluntary to protect Fuyu, and her readiness to die for her country if war ever broke out.
Lv Jing advised her against excessive worry about the unpredictable future. Later, on the street, Changsheng encountered Qinxin, who gifted her a makeup sharpener as thanks for her past help with her family's salt shop and shared news of her own happy, unexpected marriage. Seeing Changsheng handling the sharpener and hearing her reflective comment about how quickly fate can change, Lv Jing became concerned.
His companions, nearby, voiced their worry that Changsheng might commit suicide to avoid the peace marriage, reminding him of their mission related to future conflict with Fuyu and urging him not to show weakness. Lv Jing internally debated, feeling things might not be as bad as he feared and that his purpose wasn't purely destructive, considering peace a better outcome. He wrestled with the thought of someone suffering or dying because of him, referring to Changsheng as "Boren."
His companion suggested he reveal his identity as Prince Qin if he was so worried, believing it could work out if she had feelings for him. Lv Jing dismissed this, citing the critical need to keep his identity secret while still in Fuyu due to the risks. Seeing Changsheng draw the sharpener again, and misunderstanding her intention, Lv Jing rushed to her, snatched the sharpener away, and threw it.
Just as he started to speak, presumably to reveal who he was, Changsheng stopped him, admitting she had only been demonstrating the gift and was not attempting suicide, revealing her previous actions were a test. Lv Jing was visibly flustered by his mistaken alarm. Meanwhile, Xiao Zilv, after contemplating and drinking, resolved to go to the palace and ask the Emperor to revoke the marriage decree.
His mother tried to stop him, threatening to take her own life and arguing he would ruin the Xiao family's honor built over three generations. However, Jin intervened, standing with Xiao Zilv and threatening to die herself if her mother prevented him from going, arguing that true honor lay in pursuing his feelings for Changsheng and that both would regret it if he didn't act.
Their mother finally yielded, and Jin urged Xiao Zilv to go quickly to see the Emperor and seek Changsheng's hand in marriage. At the imperial court, the Emperor was speaking to Lv Jing, about to announce the chosen candidate for the peace marriage, when Xiao Zilv burst in, interrupting the proceedings.
Ignoring the Emperor's order to stand aside, Xiao Zilv knelt and earnestly pleaded with His Majesty to grant him a marriage decree with Princess Changsheng, citing the loyalty of the Xiao family and his deep affection for her. The Emperor refused his plea, stating that Prince Changle had already made the decision regarding the marriage, and again ordered Xiao Zilv to stand aside.
Turning to Lv Jing, the Emperor stated that the final decision regarding the peace marriage rested with Princess Changsheng herself. At that moment, Changsheng entered the court. She addressed the Emperor, formally identifying herself as Liu Changsheng, and declared her willingness to form the alliance through marriage, dedicating her life to protecting Fuyu. She formally requested His Majesty's permission to voluntarily go to Great Tang for the peace marriage.
