Jade's Fateful Love Episode 21 Recap
> Jade's Fateful Love Recap
A woman named Chen Susu met with Yueling at the West Market, explaining that she felt compelled to speak with her due to their previous encounters, particularly mentioning her role in helping Yueling leave the abandoned palace at the North Prince's request. Although her low status limited the extent of her assistance, she acted in the North Prince's interest. Yueling expressed gratitude for her help.
Chen Susu noted that Yueling had not seen the North Prince recently and revealed he was facing unspoken difficulties. She explained that the North Prince's arduous efforts to secure the letter of marriage from Dongyu were motivated by his desire to free Yueling from her predicament, his resolve to marry her, and the pursuit of peace for the realm. Yueling confirmed her understanding and vowed to protect him.
However, Chen Susu insisted this was insufficient and suggested Yueling should leave him, apologizing for the potentially offensive advice but urging Yueling to understand her reasons. Chen Susu elaborated that the North Prince's risky journeys to Dongyu were entangled in a deeper political struggle. While the Prime Minister's faction had suffered setbacks, their ambitions remained, and they posed a threat of retaliation.
With the Emperor's and Prime Minister's forces currently balanced, the allegiance of frontier commanders, especially the powerful Lord of the South (Princess Luoyi's brother), was crucial. The Emperor needed the Lord of the South's support, and the condition set was the marriage of Princess Luoyi to the North Prince. Following this, a subordinate reported on a failed mission in Dongyu, revealing that Su Nian was the traitor.
When questioned about Su Nian's whereabouts, the subordinate admitted ignorance, having ceased monitoring her after she accepted the mission, assuming she would soon die from poison without an antidote. The order was given to find Su Nian, whether alive or dead. Separately, Xingyi left a letter for Yueling, stating that Su Nian had saved him and he intended to find her. Later, Zhou Shiyu visited Yueling at her mansion. He found her engrossed in a book and commented on it.
Yueling seemed less welcoming than usual, prompting Zhou Shiyu to ask if something was troubling her, noting her infrequent visits. Yueling attributed her preoccupation to managing the successful revenue of the West Market and planning its future. Zhou Shiyu inquired about their engagement and the progress of wedding arrangements, stating he should expedite matters with the Emperor. Yueling deflected, asking if he was eager to marry her, which he denied.
When asked if anything interesting had happened, she only mentioned visiting the West Market. Changing the subject, Yueling questioned Zhou Shiyu about the political landscape, particularly the influence and importance of the Lord of the South. Zhou Shiyu acknowledged the Lord of the South's significant power and role in countering the Prime Minister's faction, adding that he had not yet taken a definitive side.
Yueling then asked if the political challenge could be resolved if the Lord of the South's sister, Princess Luoyi, were to marry someone aligned with the Emperor. Zhou Shiyu asked if someone had discussed this with her. Yueling expressed her desire to share any difficulties he faced, trusting his reasons if he could not fully confide in her.
She emphasized her wish for him to be free from any constraints, including herself, and assured him of her support and understanding for any choices he made. Zhou Shiyu agreed. That night, Yueling gazed at the incomplete moon, expressing a wish for Zhou Shiyu's safety if they were destined not to be together. The following day, Zhou Shiyu was informed that Yueling had met with Lady Chen in her carriage at the West Market and they had conversed at length.
Zhou Shiyu then met with the South Prince, Gao Yuan, expressing his understanding that Gao Yuan and Luoyi were close and that Gao Yuan would be relieved if Luoyi could marry Zhou Shiyu. Zhou Shiyu clarified that he and Luoyi were and would remain cousins, requesting that Gao Yuan cease conveying messages about this potential marriage to Princess Yueling.
Zhou Shiyu then offered to help Gao Yuan secure a position in the Capital City in exchange for his support for the Emperor. Gao Yuan agreed to provide his full support if Zhou Shiyu could facilitate his remaining in the capital. Yueling discussed her situation with Qin Siyuan, complimenting his artistic talent.
She presented a hypothetical scenario about a friend engaged to someone who could not marry her due to family obligations, and how this friend could make the beloved give up. Siyuan, recognizing the situation was Yueling's own, suggested a decisive action: for her to find another suitable person and marry quickly, perhaps within a couple of days, to resolve the matter decisively. Yueling expressed surprise at the suggested speed.
Siyuan advised announcing a public recruitment of a husband throughout the city to quickly find a suitable candidate for her to choose from. Although initially hesitant about announcing it city-wide, Yueling decided it was necessary. She declared that as the imperial marriage decree had not been issued, she was not yet the North Princess Consort and would proceed with a public recruitment.
Yueling confided in Qianqian that she was taking this drastic step to alleviate the pressure on Zhou Shiyu, asserting that despite the recruitment, only Zhou Shiyu could truly be her husband. News of the public recruitment quickly spread from the Princess's Mansion. Yang Xu excitedly informed Zhou Zhixuan, referring to him as "Wangye."
Hearing that the Princess was no longer claiming the title of North Princess Consort and was seeking talented young men, Zhou Zhixuan saw it as a clear opportunity and a hint directed at him. Confident in his success, especially knowing Siyuan was setting the test questions, Zhou Zhixuan eagerly prepared to participate, aiming to marry the Princess and spite Zhou Shiyu. Meanwhile, Gao Luoyi was trying on dresses and comparing herself favorably to the Princess of Dongyu.
Hearing discussions about the Princess, she sent her maid, Ping'er, to investigate. Ping'er reported the public recruitment. Gao Luoyi concluded the Princess was withdrawing from the expected marriage upon learning of Gao Luoyi's own impending marriage to the North Prince. Gao Luoyi decided to attend the recruitment, suggesting it would be fitting for her, as the presumed future North Princess Consort, to offer congratulations if the Princess found a suitable husband. The recruitment contest commenced at the Princess's Mansion.
Yueling and Qianqian waited, puzzled when no other contestants arrived despite the widespread announcement. Only Zhou Zhixuan appeared, claiming others lacked foresight while he was present. Qianqian quickly dispersed the small crowd gathered outside, offering them money and falsely claiming the Princess had already selected a husband. Inside, Siyuan explained the contest consisted of three rounds: a literary test, a martial test, and a final test personally administered by the Princess. Zhou Zhixuan confidently accepted.
For the literary test, Siyuan presented a couplet ("远山原不老，为雪白首" - The distant mountain is never old, snow whitens its head), and Zhou Zhixuan provided a corresponding couplet ("近水本无忧，因风皱面" - The nearby water is naturally carefree, wind wrinkles its face), which Siyuan and Yueling praised for its artistry and precise match. Gao Luoyi arrived to observe, stating that the recruitment was not a shameful event. Yueling remarked that Gao Luoyi showed good taste by attending.
The martial test began with a physically strong opponent. Despite Yang Xu's encouragement, Zhou Zhixuan struggled against the larger man, who advised him to yield to avoid injury. Yang Xu urged Zhou Zhixuan to act. After being repeatedly struck, Zhou Zhixuan resorted to throwing chili powder into his opponent's eyes, incapacitating him and securing victory in that round. Siyuan declared Zhou Zhixuan the winner of the round, acknowledging the unconventional method.
Just as the final stage was about to commence, Zhou Shiyu arrived abruptly, having rushed from the palace after hearing the news of the recruitment. Zhou Zhixuan questioned his presence. Zhou Shiyu stated he could not delay, or his intended wife would be taken by another. Zhou Zhixuan countered that Yueling was holding a recruitment, not waiting to be his wife. Zhou Shiyu implied Zhou Zhixuan's martial victory was questionable and challenged him to a proper contest.
Yueling objected, asserting that the public recruitment was meant to be fair to all participants, questioning if she should only prevent Zhou Shiyu from intervening. Siyuan then proceeded with the final test, explaining it was devised by the Princess and designed to gauge how well the contestants knew her. Siyuan asked the first question: the world's most beautiful place. Zhou Shiyu provided the correct answer (a pool beneath a cliff), and Siyuan declared him correct.
Siyuan then asked the second question: the world's most expensive pastry. Zhou Zhixuan suggested snowflake pastry, and Yueling suggested tea-flavored cake. Zhou Shiyu also provided the correct answer for this question, and Siyuan declared him correct. Zhou Zhixuan remarked he had only one question left. Siyuan asked the third question: something the Princess treasured most that would stay with her in life and death. Zhou Zhixuan suggested money. Yueling stated it was the jade she wore.
Zhou Shiyu also gave the jade as his answer, and Siyuan confirmed this answer was correct. Siyuan then declared that the North Prince had answered all three questions correctly, indicating his deep understanding of the Princess. Despite Zhou Shiyu winning the final round of questioning, Siyuan noted that Zhou Zhixuan had won the preceding two rounds, leaving the ultimate decision on the recruitment outcome to Yueling. As Yueling was contemplating her choice, a royal eunuch arrived with an imperial decree.
He announced the Emperor's order, proclaiming Princess Ashina Yueling virtuous, gracious, kind, and beautiful, deeming her a perfect match for the North Prince. To solidify friendly ties with Dongyu and honor their mutual affection, the Emperor granted their marriage, directing the Ministry of Rites and the Bureau of Astronomy to oversee the arrangements for the wedding to take place on the fifteenth of the following month. Zhou Shiyu and Yueling received the decree.
The eunuch congratulated them both as the North Prince and North Princess Consort before departing. Zhou Shiyu told Yueling to remain and become his North Princess Consort. Gao Luoyi reacted with visible fury, exclaiming her rightful claim to be the North Princess Consort and questioning the turn of events before leaving angrily, followed by her maid. Zhou Zhixuan was left appearing stunned by the unexpected imperial decree.
